Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has appealed to farmers across the state to defer one crop during the coming farming season, citing concerns over water availability and rising electricity demand amid the anticipated effects of El Niño.
Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat on Thursday, following a meeting with ministers, the Chief Minister warned that the next 9-10 months could be challenging for the state’s water and power supply. He urged farmers, citizens and political parties to cooperate in protecting drinking water resources.
Reservoir Water Levels Raise Concerns
- According to the Chief Minister, water availability in reservoirs across Telangana has declined significantly compared with the same period last year.
- He stated that reservoirs in the Krishna basin had 72% less water than last year, while those in the Godavari basin had 42% less. The total water available across reservoirs was approximately 200 TMC, compared with the usual 462 TMC during this period.
- Revanth Reddy said the available water resources were insufficient to meet both drinking water and agricultural requirements, making conservation essential.
Farmers Asked to Reconsider Paddy Cultivation
- The Chief Minister said the government had previously appealed to farmers to avoid water-intensive paddy cultivation because of the expected rainfall deficit.
- According to him, farmers had avoided paddy cultivation across more than 13 lakh acres, while paddy was planted on approximately 53 lakh acres by other farmers.
- He cautioned that sowing another crop under water stressed conditions could expose farmers to substantial financial losses and further affect drinking water supplies.
- Addressing the farming community, he said farmers had repeatedly supported society during difficult times and appealed to them to cooperate with the government during the current situation.
Electricity Demand Also Increasing
- The Chief Minister also expressed concern over rising electricity consumption in Telangana.
- He stated that daily power demand in October, which would normally be around 15,000 MW, had risen to more than 20,000 MW. He praised Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka for efforts to maintain electricity supply but said power availability remained a challenge.
- According to Revanth Reddy, several other states, including Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala, were also facing power-related difficulties.
Government Plans Support for Agricultural Labourers
- The Chief Minister said agricultural labourers affected by the proposed deferment of crop cultivation would be supported through VB-G RAM G, with a focus on irrigation and drainage channel works.
- He said these activities would help improve infrastructure and prepare the state to manage future water related challenges when rainfall returns.
El Nino Awareness and Information System
- The government will establish a coordinated system to monitor water supplies, manage resources and provide information to the public.
- Revanth Reddy announced that K. Ramakrishna Rao, former Chief Secretary and current Advisor to the Telangana government, would serve as the nodal officer for information relating to El Nino.
- He also said a special group of ministers would be formed and an all party meeting would be held after Dasara to discuss the situation. Toll free helpline numbers would be announced separately, according to his statement.
- The Chief Minister urged people not to circulate unverified information or rumours on social media and appealed to journalists to help communicate accurate information.
‘Save Water, Save Power’ Campaign
- Calling for collective action, the Chief Minister urged residents of cities and towns to conserve water and electricity. He compared the need for public cooperation during the anticipated El Nino related challenges with the collective response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- He appealed to political parties to set aside differences and work together to protect drinking water supplies and support affected communities.
- The government’s central message is to conserve water and electricity while preparing for possible shortages. Farmers and the public have been asked to cooperate as Telangana faces concerns over reservoir levels, agricultural water requirements and electricity demand.
Source: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s press conference statement, as provided.
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