Nandyal Boosts Water Storage by 3.3 TMC Under 'Catch the Rain'

Kalpana Kanungo - Mumbai Bureau Jul 25, 2026 1,950 Views

Nandyal district in Andhra Pradesh expanded its water storage capacity by 3.30 TMC under the national 'Catch the Rain' campaign. By desilting 2,691 km of channels, restoring 225 minor irrigation tanks, and executing 2,103 conservation works across 489 Gram Panchayats, the district substantially improved monsoon rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge.

NANDYAL — Under the ongoing nation-wide 'Catch the Rain' campaign, Nandyal district in Andhra Pradesh has enhanced its water storage capacity by 3.30 Thousand Million Cubic (TMC) feet as of July 25, 2026. The month-long intensive drive, running from July 4 to August 4, 2026, focuses on capturing monsoon runoff, restoring traditional water bodies, and desilting supply channels under the theme "Catch the Rain, Where it Falls, When it Falls."

The achievement marks a major milestone for Rayalaseema’s rural economy. By restoring 3.27 TMC of existing storage capacity and creating 0.03 TMC of fresh storage through newly constructed civil structures, local administration and engineering departments have provided a buffer against seasonal droughts, ensuring sustainable water access for local farmers, livestock, and households.

Scientific Surveying Across 489 Gram Panchayats

The campaign's success is rooted in a structured, data-driven planning framework executed across all 489 Gram Panchayats in Nandyal. District technical teams carried out extensive field surveys, mapping priority catchment areas, watershed contours, and feeder routes before sanctioning works.

To ensure transparency and public trust, proposed civil projects were submitted to local Gram Sabhas for review and community feedback. Based on these inputs and engineering evaluations, the district sanctioned 2,103 specific water conservation projects, achieving a 100% grounding rate within three weeks of execution.

Massive Restoration of Feeder Canals and Minor Irrigation Tanks

To maximize the inflow of monsoon rainfall into reservoirs, engineering departments undertook extensive desilting of 2,691 kilometers of feeder and supply channels across Nandyal. This large-scale clearing removed accumulated silt and debris, restoring natural hydrological pathways that feed major rural tank networks.

Simultaneously, restoration work was launched across 251 Minor Irrigation (MI) Tanks. Official progress reports confirm that 225 tanks have been fully restored, while work on the remaining 26 structures is nearing completion.

In addition to tank systems, the district fortified its decentralized rainwater harvesting network:

Farm Ponds: 22,221 farm ponds were desilted and reinforced to capture localized surface runoff.
Check Dams: 2,221 check dams were repaired to slow down stream velocity and facilitate groundwater percolation.
Percolation Tanks: 202 percolation tanks were deepened to elevate water table levels across agrarian belts.

Socio-Economic Impact on Farmers and Local Industry

The addition of 3.3 TMC of functional storage under the 'Catch the Rain' campaign substantially mitigates agricultural risk across Nandyal's drought-prone farming belts. Farmers cultivating paddy, cotton, Bengal gram, and groundnut are expected to benefit from increased borewell yield and stabilized irrigation access during post-monsoon cropping seasons.

For local businesses and rural consumers, higher groundwater levels reduce reliance on emergency water tankers, lowering municipal supply costs and safeguarding drinking water availability through the dry summer months.

Official Sources

According to official press briefings and project releases published on July 25, 2026:

The Ministry of Jal Shakti confirmed that technical evaluations by district engineering departments estimated 3.27 TMC of recovered storage and 0.03 TMC of newly generated capacity.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) reported 100% grounding of 2,103 sanctioned conservation works across all 489 Gram Panchayats in Nandyal.

Quote Section

"According to officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the combination of scientific GIS mapping, technical engineering evaluations, and Gram Sabha participation enabled Nandyal to achieve complete project grounding within weeks," the official release stated. "Administrators noted that restoring 3.3 TMC of capacity significantly boosts climate resilience and long-term water security across Rayalaseema."

Why It Matters

Rayalaseema has historically faced severe groundwater depletion due to erratic monsoon patterns and hard-rock topography. By recovering 3.3 TMC of storage capacity through decentralized, low-cost civil interventions rather than capital-intensive mega-dams, Nandyal demonstrates a scalable, community-led model for climate adaptation and drought proofing across semi-arid regions.

Key Facts at a Glance

Total Capacity Restored: 3.30 TMC added (3.27 TMC restored, 0.03 TMC new capacity).
Canal Desilting: 2,691 km of feeder and supply channels cleared for smooth water flow.
Tank Revival: 225 out of 251 Minor Irrigation Tanks fully restored.
100% Project Grounding: 2,103 water conservation works executed across 489 Gram Panchayats.
Campaign Duration: Conducted nationwide from July 4 to August 4, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 'Catch the Rain' campaign? The 'Catch the Rain' campaign is a national water conservation initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to construct and restore rainwater harvesting structures, desilt supply channels, and recharge groundwater before and during the monsoon season.

How much water capacity did Nandyal district restore in 2026? Nandyal district restored 3.27 TMC of tank storage capacity and created 0.03 TMC of new storage, resulting in a total capacity enhancement of 3.30 TMC.

How were projects selected in Nandyal? Projects were selected through field surveys across 489 Gram Panchayats, technical engineering assessments, and public consultations approved during Gram Sabha meetings.