El Nino causing rainfall deficit in Andhra: CM Naidu

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said that severe El Nino conditions have triggered a rainfall deficit across the state. Addressing the Assembly, Naidu defended the Mega DSC-2025 teachers recruitment drive, asserting that the selection process was conducted with transparency.

He also said every candidate's selection is traceable and accountable.

“Everything was transparent…every candidate selection is traceable and accountable,” he said, adding that there was zero compromise while conducting the examination. The CM said, for the period between June and December, the state is projected to receive only 557 mm of rain as against the normal average of 867 mm.

“The impact of El Nino is severe on the state…There is a large shortage of rainfall than normal,” said Naidu.

Naidu noted that all the districts will record lower rainfall than normal in 2026, saying a few regions registered 68 per cent deficit rainfall in July. The TDP supremo said there will be an expected shortfall of 35 per cent in August, followed by a similar trend in September, 25 per cent in October and 20 per cent in November. However, he said December is expected to see a one per cent increase in rainfall. According to the CM, the prolonged dry spell has led to depleting water levels in various river basins, projects and reservoirs. Though inflow into key reservoirs like Srisailam was expected to be 753 TMC, Naidu said only 214 TMC was received until now.

“Our state gets water from Karnataka and Maharashtra and we get it only after their reservoirs are filled. Because of this, less water is flowing into Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar projects. Water availability is also low in Godavari basin,” he said.

The Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram currently holds only 1,071 TMC water as against its capacity of 2,557 TMC. While the Krishna and Penna River basins are stressed, the CM said Godavari River basin remains better off with water availability, allowing the state to divert water to the Krishna delta through Pattiseema project. The CM said the southern state managed to save up to 552 TMC water in the past two years with efficient water management.

Naidu said the signs of El Nino impacting agriculture are clear and highlighted that main reservoirs hold only 586 TMC water even as groundwater levels are depleting.