HYDERABAD – Water reservoirs in India’s southern state of Andhra Pradesh have reached their highest levels in two decades, thanks to an unseasonably strong monsoon. According to recent data from The Hindu and the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Information and Management System (APWRIMS), the state’s major and medium reservoirs are at 85.49% of their total capacity as of September 7, 2025. This marks a significant increase from the 73.55% storage recorded at the same time last year.
The robust inflows have been primarily driven by a series of low-pressure systems and upper-air circulations from the Bay of Bengal, which have brought heavy rainfall to the state, particularly during August. While the water levels in reservoirs across neighboring states like Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have also improved, Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna River basin is nearing full capacity at 94.87%.
Despite the positive news for water storage, the unusually strong monsoon has also caused severe agricultural disruption. Farmers in the state are facing an uncertain outlook for the upcoming rabi (winter) crop season. A local water engineer stated that water is “not likely to be released for rabi” due to various factors, including the decrease in water levels from power generation at the Srisailam project and ongoing maintenance issues under the joint control of the Telangana and Andhra governments.
While the increased water levels offer a crucial boost to the region’s water security, they also highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing power generation, irrigation, and flood safety. Experts point to a national need to improve water management strategies and address climate-related vulnerabilities, especially as India continues to grapple with pollution and its impacts on water resources and weather patterns.