Tadepalli, Sep 17: YSRCP president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the Chandrababu Naidu government of failing to take adequate measures to address the drought, rainfall deficit and water scarcity prevailing across the state.
Jagan made the allegations during a video conference with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) general secretaries, regional coordinators and district presidents. The meeting focused on the drought situation, water availability and the difficulties being faced by farmers across Andhra Pradesh. The party had said the meeting would include a district-wise assessment of the situation and discussion of programmes to support farmers.
Referring to the impact of El Nino and the rainfall deficit, Jagan said, “What Andhra Pradesh is facing is not the El Nino effect, but the ‘Yellow Nino effect’,” using the phrase to criticise the state government.
He alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had spoken about the possibility of an El Nino impact as early as February 4, but claimed that the government failed to undertake adequate preparatory measures despite being aware of the potential threat.
Jagan alleged that the crisis was not merely the result of natural factors and claimed that the government’s response had aggravated the difficulties faced by farmers.
He said farmers who entered cultivation after relying on government assurances had suffered losses of Rs.15,000 to more than Rs.20,000 per acre.
He also alleged that farmers had lost the protection of free crop insurance and questioned the government’s preparedness to deal with the drought.
Andhra Pradesh has indeed experienced a significant rainfall deficit during the 2026 monsoon. Reports at the end of August put the state’s cumulative deficit at around 45 per cent, with the shortfall affecting kharif cultivation and water availability.
Jagan also raised questions over the management of water from the Srisailam reservoir. He alleged that water was not released towards Rayalaseema when it could have been used for irrigation and was instead released for power generation.
He further alleged that Telangana was constructing lift irrigation projects upstream and downstream of Pulichintala, while claiming that the Andhra Pradesh government was not adequately responding to the issue.
He pointed to Karnataka’s early declaration of drought and alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government had failed to take similar action.
He claimed that existing lift irrigation schemes, including the Pushkara and Purushothapatnam lift schemes, were being operated and presented as newly initiated efforts to bring water to farmers.
“On one hand, the government is giving up water storage capacity at Polavaram, while on the other, it is creating a spectacle in the name of lift irrigation projects,” Jagan alleged.
Jagan questioned why drought-affected mandals had not been officially declared despite rainfall deficits during June, July and August.
YS Jagan directed party leaders to visit drought-affected areas, meet farmers, submit district-specific demands and pressure the government to provide immediate relief. He said he would also tour the affected regions based on the severity of the situation.
Jagan’s latest remarks therefore place the drought and water crisis at the centre of YSRCP’s political criticism of the state government, with the party seeking greater focus on farmer relief, water management and contingency measures.
