Telangana plans six-month programme to ensure water security against El Nino
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the state will implement a statewide initiative to restore and conserve water resources from January to June 2027.
The Telangana government is planning a statewide six-month programme involving every village to restore, rejuvenate and conserve water resources to overcome El Nino conditions, according to The New Indian Express.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said during a review meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday that the Irrigation and Panchayat Raj & Rural Development departments will jointly prepare an action plan for implementation from January to June 2027.
The initiative aims to create water assets, strengthen irrigation infrastructure and improve groundwater availability by mobilising villagers, particularly agricultural labourers.
A list of 355 categories of works has been prepared, covering activities such as desilting minor irrigation tanks, village ponds, feeder channels and irrigation canals.
The programme will also include the restoration of traditional water-harvesting structures, repairing damaged sluice gates and constructing check dams across smaller rivers and streams to facilitate groundwater recharge.
Minister Reddy said the programme will leverage the employment guarantee framework, with the state providing additional funds where necessary to supplement the existing 60:40 funding arrangement.
Officials have been directed to study successful groundwater-recharge initiatives in Rajasthan and Maharashtra to identify practices for replication in Telangana.