Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on November 15 to seek central financial assistance for drought-like conditions affecting the state, agriculture and rural livelihoods.
According to an official release, the Telangana delegation will brief the prime minister on rainfall deficits attributed by the state government to El Nino and their impact on farmers and agricultural activity. The chief minister is expected to seek adequate financial assistance and central support for drought mitigation and relief in affected areas.
The state government said the assistance would be used to strengthen drought-mitigation efforts and provide timely support to farmers and rural communities. The request comes after Telangana declared 365 mandals across 31 of the state’s 33 districts drought-affected on October 27 and directed district authorities to begin relief measures.
Of the 365 mandals, 111 were classified as facing severe drought and 254 as facing moderate drought for 2026. The classifications provide the administrative basis for district-level relief measures, while the proposed central assistance would determine the scale of financial support available to the state.
Telangana recorded cumulative rainfall of 615.5 mm between June 1 and September 30, against a normal rainfall of 740.6 mm for the period. The state government reported a deviation of minus 17 per cent, with 18 of the 33 districts recording deficient rainfall.
The rainfall shortfall has also been reflected in the state’s kharif crop area. According to the government, the area under kharif crops fell from 139.28 lakh acres to 126.06 lakh acres. The reduction indicates the effect of lower water availability on the area brought under cultivation, although the supplied report does not provide a district-wise breakdown or quantify crop losses.
The state’s request follows a resolution passed by the Telangana Assembly on September 18, urging the Centre to provide a package of Rs 20,000 crore, among other measures, to address the impact of El Nino and rainfall deficits. The forthcoming meeting will place that request directly before the Union government.
The official release did not specify the amount of financial assistance that the chief minister will seek during the November 15 meeting, nor did it announce a central decision on the proposed package. The meeting is expected to focus on the state’s rainfall data, the drought classifications and the support required for affected farmers and rural communities.
