Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy appealed to farmers to defer one crop cycle amid fears of a severe water and power crisis triggered by the anticipated impact of El Niño. Warning that the next
eight to ten months could be extremely challenging, he said conserving water was essential to ensure drinking water supplies across the state.
Addressing a press conference, Revanth Reddy described the situation as unprecedented and compared the potential impact of El Niño to the COVID-19 pandemic, calling for a united response from the government, farmers, political parties and the public.
“Save Water, Save Power — this is our magic mantra,” the Chief Minister said, urging people to follow conservation measures until the rains return in July 2027.
The Chief Minister said reservoir levels across Telangana were significantly below normal, raising concerns over the availability of water for both agriculture and drinking purposes.
According to him, water storage in the Krishna basin was 72% lower than at the same time last year, while the deficit in the Godavari basin stood at 42%. Against the usual storage of around 462 TMC across reservoirs during this period, the state currently has only about 200 TMC available.
“No reservoir has enough water to meet both drinking water and agricultural requirements,” he said, stressing the need for judicious use of available resources.
Revanth Reddy said scientists had warned about the possibility of severe El Niño conditions, with the phenomenon expected to affect several countries and millions of people worldwide.
Farmers urged to defer paddy cultivation
Appealing to the farming community to cooperate with the government, the Chief Minister said paddy cultivation would put additional pressure on the state’s already strained water resources.
He said around 13 lakh acres had been brought under crops other than paddy following the government’s appeal, while paddy had been cultivated on approximately 53 lakh acres.
“Farmers have always supported society during times of crisis. They have provided food whenever the country needed it. Now, we are asking them to help us secure water as well,” he said.
The Chief Minister warned that farmers who sow crops without adequate water could suffer heavy losses, while excessive agricultural water consumption could further threaten drinking water supplies.
He also said agricultural labourers who may lose employment because of reduced cultivation would be supported through the VB-G RAM G scheme. The government plans to focus on irrigation-related and drainage works to improve preparedness for future rainfall.
Electricity demand crosses 20,000 MW
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also flagged the growing pressure on the state’s power supply system, noting that electricity demand in October had crossed 20,000 MW against the usual level of around 15,000 MW.
He further added that several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala, were also facing electricity shortages, making additional power procurement difficult.
The Chief Minister urged people to use electricity judiciously and called for coordination between states and the Centre to manage the situation.
Nodal officer, war room to coordinate response
To counter misinformation and ensure accurate communication, the Chief Minister announced that K. Ramakrishna Rao, former Chief Secretary and current Advisor to the Telangana government, would serve as the nodal officer for information related to El Niño.
A special group of ministers will also coordinate the government’s response. An all-party meeting will be held after Dasara under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to discuss the crisis and decide on further measures.
The government will establish a war room to monitor and optimise water supply, while toll-free numbers will be announced to help citizens obtain information. Ministers will also communicate directly with people about precautionary measures and government initiatives.
Revanth Reddy urged residents of cities and towns to avoid wasting water, emphasising that every drop would be crucial in the coming months.
CM calls for political unity
Drawing a parallel with the COVID-19 crisis, the Chief Minister said political differences must be set aside to address the emerging challenge.
He appealed to all political parties, public representatives, journalists and citizens to help spread awareness and prevent panic caused by fake news on social media.
“We must work together in mission mode so that nobody is left behind,” he said, adding that the state government would seek the Centre’s support in managing the crisis.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Telangana could overcome the challenge through collective action, responsible water and power consumption, and coordinated efforts across all sections of society.
