Over the past few weeks, Namireddy Srinivas Reddy has been contemplating severing the very lifeblood of his existence — his 12-acre sweet lime orchard that he has nurtured over 13 years. A dedicated farmer and an advocate by profession, this 45-year-old from Molka Patnam village in Telangana’s Nalgonda district owns 17 acres of agricultural land, five acres of which lie fallow in the face of an acute water shortage the region is reeling under.
“I was forced to dig 10 borewells this year alone, but found success with only four, yielding 1.5 inches of water each from three borewells at a depth of 300 feet, and 1 inch water from another borewell. I have also installed three motors to ensure the 975 trees of my orchard survive,” says Reddy, who has spent ₹3.35 lakh on the exercise.
Reddy’s predicament mirrors a broader crisis among HOW MANY sweet lime farmers across the erstwhile composite Nalgonda district, following a drought-like situation not witnessed in over a decade.
