Telangana Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has called for urgent water conservation measures and directed officials to prioritise drinking water needs as the state prepares for possible summer scarcity linked to deficient rainfall and the effects of Super El Niño.
During an inspection of the Dummugudem anicut dam near Ammagaripalli in Ashwapuram mandal of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district, Rao said water should be diverted for other uses only after drinking water requirements had been met. If supplies were insufficient, he said, the use of water for non-drinking purposes must be restricted.
The minister’s direction places drinking water at the centre of water allocation decisions ahead of the coming summer. He said the effects of Super El Niño and wider global climate change could create severe water scarcity conditions because of deficient rainfall. The state is already facing concerns about water availability in the months ahead.
Rao also asked officials to coordinate water and energy management, saying precautionary measures were needed for both resources. The state government, he said, was making arrangements to prevent power shortages during the summer. The link between the two resources is significant for agriculture, where irrigation depends on the availability of electricity as well as surface and groundwater.
The inspection also highlighted the gap between the designed and usable storage capacity of the Dummugudem barrage. The structure has a storage capacity of 0.8 tmc ft, but officials are currently able to store approximately 0.5 tmc ft. The Chief Minister has directed officials to examine technical measures, including the use of sandbags, to increase the quantity of water that can be retained.
The storage limitation adds an operational challenge to the state’s water planning. Even when water is available in a river system, the amount that can be held for later use depends on the condition and design of local structures. In Dummugudem, the difference between the stated capacity and current storage capability means that officials must manage both supply and retention before the summer demand period.
Rao also advised farmers to consider current weather conditions before deciding which crops to cultivate. He said cultivation could require an investment of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per acre and urged farmers to assess the availability of water, electricity and groundwater before selecting crops.
The immediate next steps are the technical evaluation of the Dummugudem barrage and coordination among officials to reserve available water for drinking purposes, while the state continues preparations for summer water and power management.
