Telangana Cabinet to Seek Central Aid as El Niño Causes 40% Rainfall Deficit; CM Orders Drought Action Plan

Hyderabad: The Telangana Cabinet has decided to write to the Central Government seeking financial assistance and a special team to assess the impact of the El Niño-induced drought in the state. With nearly 40% rainfall deficit, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to prepare immediate action plans for drinking water, irrigation, agriculture and power supply. The Cabinet also ordered district-level review meetings and statewide awareness programmes to tackle the worsening drought situation.

Telangana Cabinet to Write to Centre on El Niño Impact

The Telangana Cabinet decided to send a detailed letter to the Central Government explaining the impact of the prevailing drought conditions and the El Niño effect on:

• Crop cultivation
• Agriculture and allied sectors
• Drinking water
• Irrigation
• Employment for labourers

The Cabinet will request the Centre to:

• Send a special team to Telangana to assess the ground situation.
• Provide financial assistance for implementing El Niño contingency plans.

Telangana Records Nearly 40% Rainfall Deficit

The Cabinet noted that Telangana is facing nearly 40% rainfall deficit due to the impact of El Niño.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed officials to immediately prepare alternative action plans to address possible shortages in:

• Drinking water
• Irrigation water
• Agriculture
• Electricity supply

As the Meteorological Department has warned that conditions could become more difficult in the coming days, the Chief Minister directed all departments to remain prepared with advance measures.

Follow for more details: munsifdaily.com

District Collectors Asked to Prevent Drinking Water Shortages

The Cabinet directed District Collectors to remain alert and ensure that no part of Telangana faces drinking water problems.

Collectors were instructed to:

• Take immediate preventive measures.
• Respond promptly to complaints received from the public.

No Power Cuts, Water to Be Reserved for Drinking Needs

The Cabinet decided that there should not be even a one-minute power cut anywhere in the state.

Officials have been instructed to:

• Ensure uninterrupted power supply.
• Be prepared to generate and purchase additional electricity if required.

The Cabinet also decided that all available water in irrigation projects should be prioritised for drinking water purposes.

Farmers Advised to Shift to Low Water Crops

The Telangana Cabinet appealed to farmers to avoid cultivating water-intensive crops.

Instead, farmers have been advised to cultivate dryland crops that require less water in view of the prevailing drought conditions.

Awareness Programmes Across Telangana

The Cabinet decided to organise awareness seminars and meetings across the state on the impact of El Niño.

The awareness programmes will educate people about:

• Current drought conditions.
• Available water resources.
• Precautions farmers should follow.

Expert Report on Agriculture to Be Prepared

The Cabinet directed State Planning Board Vice-Chairman Chinna Reddy to prepare a special report on the impact of El Niño on agriculture with the assistance of agricultural experts and scientists.

The report will include recommendations on:

• Suitable crops for the current conditions.
• Precautions to be taken by farmers.
• Measures for crop protection.
• Steps required for livestock protection.

District-Level Review Meetings on July 20

The Cabinet decided to hold emergency review meetings across all districts to assess the field situation and identify immediate measures.

On July 20 (Monday), district-wise review meetings will be conducted under the leadership of the respective District Ministers.

The meetings will include:

• Public representatives.
• Government officials.

The Cabinet also decided to assign one senior IAS officer along with each district in-charge minister to oversee the review process.

Cabinet Calls for Coordinated Action

The Telangana Cabinet directed all government departments to remain fully prepared to deal with the natural crisis.

It said departments should continuously monitor the situation, work in coordination and take timely action to overcome the drought conditions.

The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has decided to seek Central Government assistance to tackle the El Niño-induced drought, which has caused nearly 40% rainfall deficit in the state. The Cabinet has requested a special assessment team and financial support, directed officials to ensure uninterrupted drinking water and electricity supply, advised farmers to shift to low water-consuming crops, and scheduled district-level review meetings on July 20 to monitor the situation.