Telangana CS reviews water availability, crop situation amid El Niño concerns
During the field visit, Jaju reviewed with senior officials alternative plans to meet drinking water requirements in Hyderabad, Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Medak districts amid declining storage levels in the two reservoirs.
With groundwater levels also falling, he directed officials to use available water resources judiciously, closely monitor consumption and assess water availability for the next 15 days to plan appropriate management measures.
The Chief Secretary said temperatures were reportedly 2-3 degrees Celsius above normal for this period and directed officials to monitor the impact of the changing weather on crops.
Observing that the next 15-20 days would be crucial for standing crops, he asked Agriculture Department officials to provide timely field-level guidance to farmers to protect their crops.
Jaju also directed the Electricity Department to ensure uninterrupted power supply for agriculture and called for coordination among the Agriculture, Electricity, Irrigation and other concerned departments in view of the prevailing weather conditions and water availability.
He instructed officials to assess ground-level conditions, interact with farmers and local residents to understand their requirements, and create awareness about precautionary measures being taken by the government.
Narayanakhed MLA Sanjeeva Reddy, the district collector and senior state-level and district officials participated in the review.
TNT TS
