Telangana’s all-party meeting on drought conditions linked to El Nino ended without specific relief measures or a clear action plan for affected farmers, even as figures cited at the meeting indicated crop damage across nearly 24.3 lakh acres. The discussions focused on drinking water, irrigation and power supply, but did not establish timelines for crop-loss compensation, Rabi cultivation or Rythu Bharosa assistance.
The meeting, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, was convened by the Congress government to seek suggestions from political parties and discuss the drought situation. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy did not attend, a point criticised by Opposition leaders who questioned the government’s preparedness and response to the crisis.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi leaders said the government had acted late despite the impact already being felt in farming areas. They questioned why available water resources had not been used more effectively and sought a clear strategy for managing the coming months. Former Minister S Niranjan Reddy also questioned the decision to declare a crop holiday for the Rabi, or Yasangi, season after earlier rainfall deficits.
The Opposition sought clarity on the use of Krishna River water, payments under Rythu Bharosa and the role of power generation from the Yadadri thermal plant. BRS leaders B Vinod Kumar and L Ramana cited estimates that about 750 TMCft of Godavari water and around 200 TMCft of Krishna water had flowed into Andhra Pradesh. They questioned Telangana’s failure to conserve and use the water, while also seeking support for livelihoods dependent on agriculture and allied activities.
The Opposition demanded compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for crop losses, with the Centre and the State contributing Rs 25,000 each. It also asked the government to explain the availability and use of disaster-relief funds and to publish a plan for addressing the drought’s effects on farmers and rural livelihoods.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and the party’s floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi submitted a representation seeking immediate steps to protect agriculture, power supply and drinking water availability. They raised concerns over falling reservoir storage and called for contingency arrangements to maintain uninterrupted water supply.
Bhatti Vikramarka said the State government had submitted a drought report to the Centre and would seek additional assistance. He said an all-party delegation could approach the Centre if required. According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the government had consulted experts, formed a committee to study El Nino and was preparing contingency plans covering drinking water, livestock water, fodder and the efficient use of reservoir stocks.
He assured Opposition parties that their suggestions would be examined. However, the meeting ended without announcing a specific compensation schedule, a confirmed Rabi cultivation plan or detailed timelines for the proposed contingency measures.
