Experts from the Geological Survey of India, Hyderabad, inspect the confluence of an irrigation drain along the coastline in Razole assembly constituency in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The Geological Survey of India (GSI-Hyderabad) will soon carry out technical investigations into the alleged ‘land subsidence’ in the Central Godavari Delta, linked to a defunct 350-kilometre-long irrigation drain system in Dr .B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
On February 1, GSI-Hyderabad Director Silendra Kumar Singh, along with experts, toured the affected fields and irrigation drains in Razole Assembly constituency before initiating technical studies to assess the scientific reasons for land subsidence in the Central Delta.
Scientific probe
Razole MLA Deva Vara Prasad told The Hindu: “Land subsidence has been reported in Razole Assembly constituency, where the flow of water in the irrigation drain remains stagnant. A slight sea-level rise is also noticed owing to land subsidence which will be technically investigated by the GSI.”
Mr. Vara Prasad added that Mr. Silendra Kumar Singh and his team have completed observations in the area where land subsidence is reported and have assured to soon begin their technical surveys.
Farmers in Razole Assembly Constituency, particularly in Sakhinetipalli, and Malkipuram mandals were unable to sow paddy during Kharif 2025-26 and Rabi 2026 due to inundation of their farmlands.
Crop holiday
Drains Deputy Executive Engineer, Razole – Godavari Irrigation Circle Mohan Krishna said: “At least 10,000 acres of area under paddy has been inundated with the entry of seawater in Malkipuram and Sakhinetipalli mandals during the Kharif and ongoing Rabi seasons. We suspect land subsidence due to the stagnation of water in the irrigation drains, and sub-drains for a length of 350 kilometres in the Central Godavari Delta.”
The Water Resource Department has roped in experts from the GSI and the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH-Roorkee) to investigate the land subsidence in the Central Godavari Delta.
Aid from ISRO:
“We have sought details about the topography of the Central Godavari Delta from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for assessment of any changes in the topography”, Mr. Mohan Krishna added..
MLA Deva Vara Prasad, a retired IAS officer, told The Hindu; “The ongoing onshore oil and natural gas exploration activities in the Godavari Delta are believed to be causing land subsidence. The GSI had earlier investigated the topography changes and land subsidence until 2021. However, there have been no such observation since 2021.”.
The Central Godavari Delta, in which Vashista, a branch of river Godavari, joins the Bay of Bengal, was once home to coconut and paddy crops.
Published – February 03, 2026 09:40 pm IST
