Telangana chief secretary Sanjay Jaju has ordered officials to intensify water management after reviewing declining storage levels at the Singur and Manjeera reservoirs, which supply drinking water to Hyderabad and the districts of Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Medak. The review also focused on the reported effects of El Nino, falling groundwater levels, crop risks and the need to maintain electricity supply for agriculture.
Jaju visited the Singur and Manjeera reservoirs on Thursday and reviewed the implementation of alternative plans prepared by the state government to maintain uninterrupted drinking water supply. He directed officials to use available water resources efficiently and strengthen advance planning for drinking-water requirements in the coming days.
The chief secretary asked officials to assess water availability for the next 15 days and introduce appropriate management measures. The direction came as reservoir storage levels declined and groundwater levels fell, increasing the need for close monitoring of consumption and available supplies.
According to the report, Jaju said temperatures were around 2–3 degrees Celsius above normal for the period and described the conditions as unusual for the season. He directed departments to closely track the effect of changing weather conditions on crops, particularly during the next stage of the agricultural cycle.
“Next 15–20 days would be critical for standing crops. Farmers should remain vigilant and agriculture department officials to provide timely, field-level guidance to farmers to protect their crops,” Jaju said, according to the report. The instruction places field-level assessment and communication with farmers alongside reservoir and groundwater monitoring.
Jaju also directed the electricity department to ensure uninterrupted power supply for agricultural needs. He said the agriculture, electricity, irrigation and other concerned departments must coordinate their actions in view of the prevailing weather conditions and water availability.
The chief secretary instructed officials to personally assess conditions on the ground, interact with farmers and local residents, understand their requirements and create public awareness about the precautionary measures being undertaken by the government. These steps are intended to connect reservoir planning with local water use, farming conditions and public communication.
The immediate administrative focus is therefore divided between securing drinking-water supplies for Hyderabad and the four districts, monitoring the next 15 days of water availability, protecting standing crops and maintaining agricultural power supply. The state departments are expected to continue field assessments and implement the alternative plans as conditions at the reservoirs and in local areas are reviewed.
