Telangana Forms Expert Committee on El Niño; 30% Rainfall Deficit Triggers State-Level Contingency Plan

Hyderabad: The Government of Telangana on Wednesday held the first meeting of its 27-member multidisciplinary Expert Committee at Praja Bhavan to assess the impact of the prevailing El Niño conditions and prepare a State-level Contingency Action Plan for agriculture and allied sectors. The meeting, chaired by Dr. G. Chinna Reddy, Vice Chairman of the Telangana State Planning Board, reviewed scientific assessments after the State recorded an overall rainfall deficit of about 30 per cent since June 1.

First Expert Committee Meeting Held at Praja Bhavan

Recognising the increasing impact of climate variability and the need for proactive planning, the Telangana Government convened the first meeting of the 27-member multidisciplinary Expert Committee on Wednesday at Praja Bhavan.

The committee has been constituted to:

• Assess the impact of the prevailing El Niño conditions
• Prepare a State-level Contingency Action Plan
• Recommend mitigation and adaptation measures for agriculture and allied sectors

The meeting was chaired by Dr. G. Chinna Reddy, Vice Chairman, Telangana State Planning Board.

Committee Includes Experts from Leading Institutions

The committee comprises experts from leading research institutions, universities, specialised organisations and government departments, including:

• India Meteorological Department (IMD)
• ICRISAT
• ICAR-CRIDA
• NABARD
• Agriculture University
• Horticulture University
• Veterinary University
• Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR)
• Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR)
• MARKFED
• Oilfed
• National Seeds Corporation
• Telangana State Seed Development Corporation
• Other stakeholder institutions

Telangana Records 30% Rainfall Deficit

Addressing the meeting, Dr. G. Chinna Reddy said Telangana is witnessing an unusual climatic situation during the current southwest monsoon season.

He said forecasts over the past six months had indicated the possibility of below-normal rainfall due to El Niño, although many had expected the State to receive normal monsoon rainfall.

According to him:

• Telangana has recorded an overall rainfall deficit of about 30 per cent from June 1 till date.
• 10 districts have received normal rainfall.
• 23 districts have recorded rainfall deficiency.

Dr. Chinna Reddy Explains El Niño and La Niña

Dr. Chinna Reddy explained that El Niño occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean remain at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal for several consecutive months.

He said the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a global climate cycle that significantly influences weather systems around the world.

According to him:

• During El Niño, weakened trade winds allow warm ocean waters to shift eastward, weakening the southwest monsoon.
• La Niña generally strengthens monsoon conditions and supports better rainfall over India.
• The current El Niño phase is contributing to the rainfall deficit in Telangana.

Scientific Data Compiled for Evidence-Based Decisions

Dr. Chinna Reddy informed the committee that district-wise and mandal-wise data have already been compiled, including:

• Weather data
• Rainfall status
• Crop area information for rainfall-deficit districts

He said this information will support scientific assessment and evidence-based decision-making.

He also recalled that during the State Cabinet meeting held on July 17, the Chief Minister directed the constitution of the Expert Committee to comprehensively study the impact of El Niño and recommend timely mitigation and adaptation measures.

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Call for Responsible Use of Natural Resources

Highlighting the broader environmental context, Dr. Chinna Reddy said environmental imbalance ultimately affects humanity and stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature through the responsible use of natural resources.

He said Telangana is responding to the challenges posed by El Niño through:

• Meticulous planning
• Scientific assessment
• Coordinated governance

He also emphasised:

• Judicious use of water
• Judicious use of electricity
• Behavioural change
• Sustained public awareness
• Community participation

He expressed confidence that collective effort, scientific guidance and coordinated action would help Telangana effectively address emerging climate challenges.

Scientific Assessments Reviewed

During the meeting, the Expert Committee reviewed scientific assessments related to:

• El Niño
• La Niña
• Sea surface temperature anomalies
• Sub-surface temperature anomalies
• Oceanic Niño Index (ONI)
• Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
• Global atmospheric circulation
• Rainfall patterns

The Government of Telangana has initiated a scientific response to the prevailing El Niño conditions by holding the first meeting of its 27-member Expert Committee at Praja Bhavan. Chaired by Dr. G. Chinna Reddy, the committee is preparing a State-level Contingency Action Plan after Telangana recorded an overall rainfall deficit of about 30 per cent, with deficiencies reported in 23 districts. The committee will use scientific data and expert recommendations to guide mitigation and adaptation measures for agriculture and allied sectors.