Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has warned that the state could face a severe water and electricity crisis for eight to 10 months until July-August next year, as reservoir storage falls below 20 per cent of capacity and drinking water supplies come under pressure.
Addressing ministers, legislators, MPs and senior leaders in Hyderabad on Friday, Reddy said available reservoir reserves were estimated at less than 200 tmc ft and would have to be protected primarily for drinking water. He said some projects had reached dead storage levels, leaving little scope to provide irrigation water for the rabi season.
The Chief Minister appealed to farmers to avoid rabi cultivation, particularly paddy, to prevent financial losses and conserve water and electricity. He advised farmers to consider only rainfed crops and vegetables where they had their own water sources. According to his assessment, nearly 15 lakh of Telangana’s 30 lakh agricultural pump sets had already dried up, with more expected to lose access to groundwater or reservoir supplies.
Reddy directed officials to closely monitor drinking water distribution and said the shortage could become more serious than the irrigation crisis. A toll-free number will be established to receive complaints and support immediate resolution of drinking water problems. The Cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, along with officials at different levels, has been asked to supervise the response.
The state government will also introduce a special employment scheme from Sankranti in January through May to provide daily work to labourers affected by drought. The programme will use Central funds along with a substantial state contribution, with the stated aim of providing employment to every eligible individual and food security to every family.
Reddy directed public representatives to visit villages, with their presence to be monitored through a mobile application. Employment guarantee works are to focus on restoring roads to agricultural fields, canals, tanks, ponds and other water bodies. The Chief Minister said implementation would have to be planned carefully to ensure that eligible workers received employment.
The warning also covers electricity supply. Reddy said annual demand had been expected to grow by 6.5 per cent, but consumption had instead increased by 20 per cent amid rising temperatures. He said the government had arranged 20,000 MW but was unable to secure additional electricity from the market even when it was prepared to purchase power at any cost. Government offices were instructed to restrict the use of air-conditioners and lights, while residents were asked to use electricity only for essential needs.
The Chief Minister also urged the state to promote solar power and said women’s self-help groups should be involved in electricity generation. He cited the benefits of solar power for households in his native village, Kongareddypalli.
Reddy said the government had managed the kharif season without an irrigation crisis and would support procurement of the crop. He said farmers had benefited from a bonus for seven varieties of fine paddy and claimed traders from other states were offering advances and purchasing produce at Rs 3,400 to Rs 4,000 per quintal.
The Chief Minister attributed the projected shortages to the El Nino weather system and said drought conditions were affecting nearly 100 countries, as well as states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He referred to Maharashtra’s drinking water rationing and efforts to reduce consumption by 20 per cent.
Reddy has asked Congress leaders to use Rythu Vedikas and cultural programmes to explain the drought situation to farmers. The government’s immediate response will centre on protecting drinking water supplies, restricting non-essential consumption and starting drought employment works from January.
