The southwest monsoon, which runs until September 30, has largely failed the district, delivering only 149 mm of rain against the expected 353 mm by mid‑September – a shortfall of about 57.7 %. Groundwater tables have dropped, borewells have run dry and most tanks and check‑dams have been empty.
Since March, the state Irrigation Department has been working to revive old stream linkages, desilt supply canals and clear feeder channels as part of the Jaladhara programme, a multi‑month effort aimed at capturing every drop of rainwater and routing it to the nearest water body.
The recent showers have shown the programme’s impact. In Somala mandal, water flowed through the cleared channels into Mallepalle tank near Nanjampeta and Venkatappa Cheruvu near Peddaupparapalle. Piler, Amma Cheruvu and Thopukunta also received fresh inflows, while in Kalikiri, Bonthalavani Cheruvu at Gadi village, Chinnapareddikunta and Peddacheruvu are filling up. Even the small Allikunta tank at Nadimicherla in Kalakada mandal reported water levels rising.
District Collector Nishant Kumar said the developments are exactly what the Jaladhara programme set out to achieve. “If this spell continues for another week, it will be a game‑changer. Not only will storage improve, but groundwater will also recharge. It will ease drinking‑water stress in villages,” he said, praising officials who have overseen more than 150 days of water‑conservation work.
Kumar added that for a district battling a 57 % rainfall deficit, the key is not just the amount of rain but how effectively it is harvested. He warned that sustained inflows are needed to translate the current gains into long‑term resilience for farmers and rural communities.