Nizamabad district administration has directed officials to prepare for possible pressure on drinking water and electricity supplies in the coming months, while urging farmers to avoid paddy cultivation during the Yasangi season because reservoir and groundwater availability cannot be assured.
District collector Ila Tripathi issued the directions during a review meeting with officials at the Integrated District Offices Complex on Thursday. She called for a comprehensive action plan to address the expected impact of El Nino and ensure uninterrupted drinking water and electricity supplies across the district.
The administration will conduct village-level awareness campaigns to explain available water resources, groundwater conditions and the risks of cultivating paddy without assured irrigation. Agriculture and horticulture officials have been asked to encourage farmers to consider maize, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables and oil palm, depending on local water availability.
Tripathi said stored reservoir water would have to be used judiciously, adding that adequate supplies could not be guaranteed for Yasangi paddy cultivation. The instruction places drinking water requirements ahead of irrigation needs in the district’s preparations for the next several months.
Officials have been directed to prepare village-wise plans covering the next eight to 10 months. These plans are expected to assess drinking water requirements, irrigation availability, groundwater levels, electricity consumption, alternative cropping patterns and water conservation measures.
The district administration is also preparing for higher electricity demand. Tripathi asked officials to make advance arrangements to prevent disruptions, alongside measures to protect drinking water availability until the next monsoon. The directions underline the administrative link between agricultural pumping, electricity demand and the availability of water for households.
As part of the immediate response, officials have been asked to repair drinking water pipelines urgently and lay new pipelines wherever necessary. The administration will also arrange agricultural borewells on a rental basis to meet drinking water requirements, according to the report.
Additional collectors Raja Goud and V. Bhujangarao, RDOs Rajendra Kumar and Vijaya Kumari, and officials from several departments attended the review meeting. The next stage of the plan will involve village-level consultations and the preparation of local assessments covering water, power and cropping needs for the coming eight to 10 months.
