Water tankers to offer relief to sweet lime orchards amid El Nino impact in Dharmavaram

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav has intervened to save the sweet lime orchards and other horticulture crops facing withering due to irrigation water shortage caused by the impact of El Niño in the region.With sweet lime orchards in Dharmavaram division of Sri Sathya Sai district facing severe stress following heavy investments by farmers in long-duration crops, the Minister took up the issue with District Collector Shyam Prasad. He sought immediate alternative arrangements to protect the standing gardens.Farmers said the lack of water at crucial stage could damage crops nurtured over years, and protecting long-duration sweet lime orchards has become particularly critical in the arid belt.Responding to the climatic stress, the Collector said farmers can arrange water tankers to save orchards, and the administration will support the payment of ₹800 per tanker. Modalities for eligibility, verification and payment will be finalised in coordination with Horticulture officials and formal proceedings will be issued in two to three days.Officials said the new development would give immediate relief to horticulture farmers. Sourcing water through tankers would help keep the orchards alive amid the current distress conditions.The Collector said that district-level coordination with the Horticulture department would be stepped up to implement tanker supply quickly. Published - October 03, 2026 07:16 pm IST