AMARAVATI — The Andhra Pradesh water resources department is likely to delay the release of Godavari river water for the upcoming kharif agricultural season.
Officials originally planned to release water from the Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage at Dowleswaram on June 1 to encourage early sowing. However, a severe shortage of water storage has forced authorities to push the timeline back to the second week of June.
The delay stems from critical water levels across major reservoirs in the Godavari basin. The current water level at the Dowleswaram barrage remains low, making an immediate discharge into irrigation canals impossible.
Sowing operations for paddy and other commercial crops cannot begin until the canals receive a steady supply of water.
This delay directly impacts farmers in the East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, and Konaseema districts, who rely heavily on early water release to safeguard their crops against late-season cyclones.
Agriculture experts note that pushing the sowing window deeper into June shortens the harvesting timeline, increasing the risk of crop damage during the northeast monsoon in October.