The Telangana government is preparing village-level summer action plans and reserving reservoir water for drinking needs to prevent shortages in rural areas, Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya said during a review of water supply under the Mission Bhagiratha scheme.
The minister directed officials to prioritise drinking water and use available water resources judiciously, saying alternative arrangements must be made so that residents do not face water-related hardships. The measures are being planned amid concerns over the possible impact of El Niño conditions on water availability.
Seethakka said a special meeting would be held on October 23 to review the situation in the Singur reservoir and assess its implications for drinking water supply. Reviews with district collectors are scheduled for the first week of November.
The minister said water remaining in reservoirs after irrigation requirements are met by November 1 must be reserved exclusively for drinking purposes. Officials were also instructed to ensure that motors are available for emergency pumping from dead-storage levels in reservoirs if required.
Under the village-level summer action plans, officials will identify local drinking water sources in advance and make them ready for use. The approach is intended to provide alternatives in settlements where regular supply could be affected by declining reservoir or groundwater levels.
The instructions also include measures to improve groundwater availability. Construction of borewell recharge structures has been ordered to be completed, while check dams are to be built wherever necessary. Officials have been asked to give special attention to tribal and hilly areas, where terrain and access can make emergency water supply more difficult.
The review places responsibility on the rural water-supply system to prepare before the summer period rather than respond only after shortages emerge. Mission Bhagiratha serves as the main framework for supplying piped water to rural areas, while the proposed village plans are expected to identify additional sources and emergency arrangements locally.
The next administrative steps are the Singur reservoir review on October 23, followed by district-level reviews in early November. The government’s stated deadline for prioritising drinking water in reservoirs is November 1, after irrigation requirements are assessed.
