Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will review the state’s worsening drought situation at a special Cabinet meeting on Monday, with deficient rainfall, depleted irrigation storage, drinking water availability and rising power demand expected to be on the agenda.
The review comes after Telangana recorded 615.5 mm of rainfall during the southwest monsoon season against a normal 740.6 mm, resulting in a 17 per cent deficit by September 30. Although the state remained within the India Meteorological Department’s normal rainfall category, 18 of its 33 districts received deficient rainfall.
The government has identified around 235 mandals as facing drought-like conditions. The situation has raised concerns about standing crops, agricultural losses, rural livelihoods and drinking water availability in the coming months. The Cabinet is also expected to examine the impact of El Nino and assess measures to manage available water and power resources.
Water storage in minor irrigation tanks has emerged as a key indicator of the stress. Of the 21,500 tanks being monitored across Telangana, 17,677 had less than half their storage capacity as of October 3. A total of 12,944 tanks had either dried up or contained less than a quarter of their normal storage.
The combined storage in the monitored tanks was recorded at 94.30 thousand million cubic feet against a total capacity of 253.80 thousand million cubic feet. The figures are being reviewed alongside storage levels in major irrigation projects and the state’s requirements for drinking water and agriculture.
Farmers in several districts have also been protesting against frequent and unscheduled interruptions in three-phase power supply. They have alleged that the interruptions are disrupting irrigation operations and damaging pump-set motors, adding an electricity-supply concern to the wider water shortage.
The Telangana government has already adopted a resolution in the Legislative Assembly seeking the declaration of drought-affected mandals and financial assistance from the Centre. It has requested a special package of Rs 20,000 crore to address the rainfall deficit and support affected farmers.
The special Cabinet meeting is expected to consider immediate relief measures, the drought subcommittee’s action plan and suggestions received from an all-party meeting, farmers’ organisations and experts. The review will determine the state’s next steps on crop-loss mitigation, water allocation and power-resource management.
