Andhra Pradesh launches water‑saving and drone seed‑ball programs as El Nino looms

Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu ordered officials to maximise scientific use of water in the Godavari and Krishna delta regions, directing use of Pushkar canal and Yeleru reservoir water for drinking supplies to about 5.5 million people and for irrigation. He cancelled leave for departmental staff, instructed weed removal from main canals, warned against excessive paddy cultivation that could deplete Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir storage, and flagged the need to conserve water from the Pulichintala and Pattiseema projects if inflows remain low.

Deputy Chief Minister and Forests & Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan accelerated the state’s drone‑led seed‑ball drive to restore degraded forests. Over 30 million seed balls have been prepared, with more than 6.3 million already dispersed across roughly 6,500 ha, including about 1,000 acres reached by drones. The programme targets restoration of 30,000 ha to boost green cover to 50 percent, while monitoring rainfall and soil moisture amid El Nino‑related drought risk. Kalyan also warned of strict action against red sanders smuggling.