Maneru River runs dry amid rain deficit

The Maneru River originates from the Maneru Dam in the erstwhile Karimnagar district and flows through Sultanabad, Odela, Kalva Srirampur and Mutharam mandals before joining the Godavari River at Manthani.

Metro India News | PEDDAPALLI

The Maneru River, which usually carries a strong flow during the monsoon, has almost dried up due to inadequate rainfall, causing concern among farmers in villages along its banks in Peddapalli district.

The river stretch between Khammampalli and Tadicherla villages in Mutharam mandal, located on the border of Peddapalli and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts, now has only a few stagnant pools of water, with the flow coming to a complete halt. In contrast, the river was overflowing during the same period last year.

The Maneru River originates from the Maneru Dam in the erstwhile Karimnagar district and flows through Sultanabad, Odela, Kalva Srirampur and Mutharam mandals before joining the Godavari River at Manthani. The river serves as a crucial source of water for agriculture across these regions.

With the kharif season already underway, farmers who have sown crops are anxiously waiting for rains to save their fields. Agricultural activities have slowed considerably as irrigation sources continue to dry up.

Farmers said the lack of river flow has also led to a sharp decline in groundwater levels, forcing several borewells to run dry. They fear that if the dry spell continues, crop losses could be severe this season.

The riverbed, once filled with flowing water, is now covered with sand deposits, reflecting the impact of the prolonged rain deficit. Farmers have appealed for widespread rainfall in the coming days to revive the Maneru River, replenish groundwater and protect the standing kharif crops from further damage.