- The earlier “CEO Chief Minister” promotion was an utter failure.
- Now comes another paid campaign branding him as the “Water Man.”
- Every time Chandrababu comes to power, drought conditions grip the State.
- This time too, despite advance warnings about El Niño conditions, the Chandrababu government failed to act.
- Crops have dried up in Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, YSR Kadapa, Chittoor and Markapuram districts due to severe rainfall deficit.
- Though water is available in Srisailam, farmers under KC Canal, Telugu Ganga and Tungabhadra Low Level Canal are struggling for irrigation water.
- The Chandrababu government has indicated that it cannot assure sufficient water even to the Krishna and Godavari delta ayacuts.
- As a result, farmers’ hopes for the Kharif season are evaporating.
- The government has also failed to provide the promised nine hours of power supply to farmers, with many receiving only six to seven hours.
- Paddy farmers are struggling to irrigate crops through borewells.
- With fodder unavailable, Rayalaseema farmers are selling cattle and migrating.
- Despite advance drought warnings, the government failed to take preventive measures.
- The Chandrababu government has also abandoned free crop insurance.
Calling Chandrababu a “Water Man” is nothing but an insult to Mother Earth. The phrase “drought and Chandrababu are twins” has long been heard in Andhra Pradesh.
Drought and Chandrababu: Twins once again
Once again, the saying that “Chandrababu and drought are twins” is proving true as drought conditions return to the State. Yet, strangely, Chandrababu , a leader associated with drought , is being projected as a “Water Man” through paid promotional campaigns.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that even Mother Earth would protest at such a description. Earlier campaigns branding Chandrababu as a “CEO Chief Minister” failed to produce results on the ground. Now people are laughing at the latest “Water Man” publicity campaign.
Whenever Babu Comes, Drought Follows
Drought struck during Chandrababu’s first tenure as Chief Minister between 1995 and 2004. It returned during 2014–19. After he returned to power in 2024, drought-like conditions began surfacing again and have now intensified.
Chandrababu, who once described agriculture as an unviable burden, has always been a curse for farmers. During 1995–2004, farmers died by suicide. Now again, severe rainfall deficit, failure to release irrigation water despite availability in Srisailam, and failure to supply nine hours of free electricity are causing crops to wither.
Despite advance warnings about El Niño, the government had no proper plan and failed to deal with drought conditions. With irrigation water unavailable, farmers are now at risk of losing the entire Kharif season. Yet, while all these facts prove Chandrababu to be a “Drought Man,” TDP leaders are spending money to promote him as a “Water Man.”
‘CEO CM’ Campaign Failed , Now the ‘Water Man’ Avatar
In the past, Chandrababu was promoted as the “CEO Chief Minister.” But that image failed to deliver results on the ground. Now, at a time when crops are drying up for lack of irrigation, he is being promoted as a “Water Man.”
There may be no water in the fields, but publicity visuals show water flowing around Chandrababu. Farmers do not need promotional titles. They need irrigation water, quality power supply and government support in times of distress.
Cultivation in Records, Barren Fields on the Ground
The normal Kharif cultivation area is 77.10 lakh acres, while the government set a target of at least 80 lakh acres this year. But even after nearly 100 days of the season, paddy cultivation has not reached even 69% of the normal area.
Pulses have been cultivated in 82% of the normal area, cotton in 79%, maize in 65% and groundnut in just 37%. With only around three weeks left in the Kharif season, there is little possibility of even crossing 75% overall.
The normal area that should have been cultivated by this stage is 28.47 lakh acres, but farmers are lagging badly, particularly in paddy transplantation. These figures expose the gap between government publicity and the reality in the fields.
The Situation Across Districts
So far, crops have been cultivated in 52.84 lakh acres during Kharif, but nearly 20 lakh acres of this area is concentrated in just four districts.
In Anakapalli, Prakasam, Annamayya, Polavaram, Markapuram and Chittoor districts, cultivation has not crossed 30% of the normal area. It is around 35% in Visakhapatnam, 38% in YSR Kadapa, 44% in Palnadu and 47% in Bapatla.
The highest cultivated area is in Kurnool with 8.13 lakh acres, followed by Anantapur with 5.41 lakh acres, Nandyal with 3.8 lakh acres and Sri Sathya Sai district with 2.57 lakh acres. These are largely rain-fed dryland crops.
Severe rainfall deficit in these four districts is causing extensive crop damage. Groundnut, paddy, maize, cotton and tomato crops are drying up in several areas. Nearly 50–60% of cropped area is already estimated to have been affected, with investments of more than ₹2,000 crore at risk.
The situation is also serious in the Krishna and Godavari deltas. Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, YSR Kadapa, Chittoor and Markapuram are facing severe rainfall stress.
- In Kurnool district, against a normal cultivated area of 4,34,996 acres, cultivation has taken place in only 3,44,171 acres.
- In Anantapur, only 1,87,598 acres have been cultivated against a normal 3,43,394 acres.
- In Nandyal, cultivation is only 1,33,039 acres against 2,20,230 acres.
- In Chittoor, only 10,026 acres have been cultivated against a normal 44,267 acres.
- In the Markapuram region, only 8,201 acres have been cultivated against 65,793 acres.
Overall, cultivation has declined by lakhs of acres in these regions, yet there is no special action plan to support farmers.
Water in Srisailam, but Drought in the Canals
Although water is available in the Srisailam Project, farmers under KC Canal, Telugu Ganga and Tungabhadra Low Level Canal are not receiving irrigation water at the required time.
The government, which should have planned and regulated releases efficiently, has remained confined to meetings, reviews and publicity. If water exists in the reservoir but does not reach the farmer’s field, can that be called water management?
A ‘Water Man’ Who Cannot Supply the Deltas
The government appears unable to assure full irrigation supply even to the Krishna and Godavari delta ayacuts.
Paddy cultivation has declined in the Krishna Delta, while transplantation has been delayed in the Godavari Delta, causing anxiety among farmers. If the government cannot guarantee water even to the State’s two lifeline deltas, how can Chandrababu be glorified as a “Water Man”?
Nine-Hour Promise, Only Six to Seven Hours in Reality
The government claims that farmers are receiving nine hours of free daytime electricity. But farmers in many areas say they are getting only six to seven hours.
Even that supply comes in interruptions, making it difficult to protect crops through borewells. Paddy farmers are being forced to stay near motors day and night to irrigate their fields. Farmers also complain that burnt transformers are not repaired in time and frequent power interruptions are damaging motors.
Tankers Become the Last Resort to Save Crops
In areas where borewell levels have fallen, farmers are purchasing water through tankers to save their crops.
Even after spending thousands of rupees extra per acre, there is no guarantee that the crop will survive. The government’s failure to provide irrigation and power is increasing the burden on already distressed farmers.
No Fodder, Cattle Sold, Families Forced to Migrate
With inadequate rainfall, fodder scarcity has become severe. With neither water nor fodder available, some farmers in Rayalaseema are being forced to sell their cattle.
Farmer families are also migrating to other areas in search of employment. Why did the government fail to establish fodder centres in advance, arrange drinking water and provide employment works despite clear warnings?
Where Was the Advance Planning Despite the Warnings?
Even though there were advance indications of deficient rainfall, the government failed to prepare an alternative crop plan.
There was no advance action on seeds, power supply, irrigation water, fodder or employment works. What benefit does a farmer get from government reviews conducted only after the situation has already become severe?
Free Crop Insurance Abandoned , Where Is the Farmer’s Protection?
On one side, crops are drying due to deficient rainfall. On the other, the Chandrababu government has pushed farmers into greater uncertainty by discontinuing free crop insurance protection.
How will a farmer receive compensation after crop loss? If the government does not take responsibility for the premium, how can small and marginal farmers afford insurance? The Chandrababu government must answer these questions.
15,628 Farmer Deaths Then , Over 540 Now
Chandrababu’s anti-farmer policies and failure to manage drought conditions have pushed farmers into severe financial distress.
According to NCRB figures, 15,628 farmer deaths were recorded in undivided Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004. During the present 26 months of Chandrababu-led coalition rule, more than 540 farmers have died by suicide. In reality, the number could be even higher.
The Chandrababu government has also lagged in providing compensation to the families of deceased farmers. If the government does not act even now, farmers could face an even more difficult situation in the coming months.
Water for Publicity, Tears for Farmers
If Chandrababu is really a “Water Man”:
- Why was water not released into canals despite availability in Srisailam?
- Why could full water security not be ensured for the Krishna and Godavari deltas?
- Why is the nine-hour power supply promise not being implemented?
- Why has cultivation declined by lakhs of acres in Rayalaseema?
- When will compensation be paid for dried-up crops?
- Where are the fodder centres and drinking-water arrangements?
- Why was no advance plan prepared despite rainfall-deficit warnings?
- Why was free crop insurance not continued?
Mocking Mother Earth and the Farmer
Attaching new titles to Chandrababu will not bring water into farmers’ fields. Paid promotions cannot turn dried crops green.
Promoting Chandrababu as a “Water Man” while failing to provide irrigation water, failing to implement the nine-hour power promise and failing to protect farmers from crop losses is nothing but mocking Mother Earth and the farmer. The reality on the ground says only one thing:
Not a Water Man , Chandrababu is a “Drought Man.”
