Telangana has begun implementing a drought preparedness plan focused on preventing drinking water shortages, securing fodder for livestock and managing declining reservoir inflows, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said after chairing an all-party meeting at the state Secretariat on Wednesday.
The meeting brought together ministers, senior officials, department heads and representatives of political parties to discuss the impact of El Niño and drought conditions in the state. Vikramarka said the government had already prepared and submitted a report to the Centre seeking assistance, and that Telangana was ready to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi if required.
The administration is coordinating department-wise measures and making budgetary provisions to address conditions expected in the coming months, according to the Deputy Chief Minister. The immediate priorities include advance arrangements for drinking water in rural and urban areas, as well as water and fodder supplies for livestock.
The announcement places water supply preparedness at the centre of the state’s drought response. For cities and towns, the proposed advance arrangements could involve closer monitoring of available resources and contingency planning to prevent shortages. The report supplied by the government, however, does not specify the locations, quantities, funding allocations or operational timelines for these measures.
Vikramarka said the state had discussed El Niño’s impact in the Legislative Assembly and subsequently held meetings and seminars involving scientists and experts. The government was also undertaking public awareness efforts and assessing the conditions that could develop over the next few months, he said.
The state’s water position is also being affected by conditions beyond its borders. Vikramarka said rainfall deficits were not limited to Telangana and that poor inflows into reservoirs had resulted from lower rainfall in upper riparian states. He described efficient water-resource management as an important part of the response.
The reservoir issue adds an interstate dimension to Telangana’s drought preparedness. Water availability in the state is influenced not only by local rainfall but also by inflows from river systems shared with neighbouring regions. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government remained committed to protecting the interests of Telangana and its farmers in river-water matters.
The all-party meeting was attended by ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya, Tummala Nageswara Rao and Vakiti Srihari, who are members of the Cabinet sub-committee on drought headed by Vikramarka. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju and nodal officer J. Ramakrishna Rao also participated, along with officials from various departments.
Vikramarka said suggestions made by political leaders had been recorded and that feasible recommendations would be incorporated into the government’s action plan. He appealed to political parties to set aside criticism and cooperate in addressing the crisis, referring to the coordination seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The government’s next steps are to finalise the coordinated action plan, make the required budgetary provisions and continue assessing water, livestock and drought conditions across the state. Further assistance from the Centre and the possibility of an all-party delegation to Delhi remain part of the announced response.
