Andhra Pradesh drought response to El Niño

In late July 2026 the Andhra Pradesh government began a coordinated response to an impending El Niño‑driven drought. On 25 July the Water Resources Minister ordered intensified water‑saving measures in the Godavari and Krishna delta, diverting canal and reservoir supplies for drinking and irrigation, curbing water‑intensive paddy, and accelerating a drone‑aided seed‑ball reforestation drive to restore degraded forest cover.

Three days later, on 28 July, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expanded the effort, announcing an El Niño control room, increased use of the Vamsadhara river, borewell irrigation for high‑risk mandals, and a campaign to shift farmers to less water‑demanding crops. The administration also pushed enrollment in crop‑insurance schemes and set a 7.92 % monthly progress target for 95 capital‑region infrastructure projects, emphasizing rapid delivery, green cover, and direct monitoring.

Together, the snapshots show a progression from initial water‑conservation and forest‑restoration actions to a broader drought‑relief strategy encompassing irrigation support, insurance enrollment, and accelerated infrastructure development.