Telangana, grappling with severe drinking water scarcity during the blistering summer, plans to approach Karnataka for water release from the Narayanpur dam on the Krishna river. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy instructed officials on April 12 to liaise with the Karnataka government for water release, given the acute shortage in the Krishna basin.
Reviewing the state’s drinking water situation, the Chief Minister urged officials to take preemptive measures to avert water crises in all towns and villages, emphasizing the criticality of the next two months amid rising temperatures. Despite increased water supply compared to the previous year, it remains insufficient to meet demand, highlighting the pressing need for additional water sources.
Preparedness for alternative arrangements, including the possibility of extracting water from Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir’s dead storage for Hyderabad, was emphasized. The current scarcity is attributed to groundwater depletion, necessitating continuous monitoring of water supply without interruption.
Daily review meetings led by the Chief Secretary will involve top officials from Mission Bhagiratha, Municipal, Irrigation, and Energy Departments. Special officers for drinking water supply across districts are tasked with addressing local water issues and escalating concerns to higher authorities.
In addition to water scarcity, the Chief Minister addressed challenges in paddy procurement, warning against unfair practices by traders and millers. Stringent actions, including license cancellations and blacklisting, await those engaging in malpractices. Reddy urged farmers to ensure proper drying of paddy to fetch fair prices and directed officials to facilitate drying arrangements and enhance market surveillance using CCTV installations to curb theft.
