Hyderabad: The impact of El Nino is likely to be severe in the southern states, especially the Telugu-speaking states, Telangana’s Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said on Tuesday.
He stated that rainfall is likely to be significantly below normal this year due to the El Nino effect.
He said while El Nino is affecting many states across the country, the impact of the rainfall deficit is likely to be particularly severe in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Srinivas Reddy, who is also the in-charge minister for Warangal district, held a review meeting with officials at the Hanamkonda Collectorate to discuss the proactive measures, contingency plans, and departmental preparedness in view of the El Niño effect.
He announced that the state government has appointed a senior IAS officer as a Special Officer for each erstwhile district to continuously monitor the rainfall deficit situation. These Special Officers will prepare reports on aspects such as agriculture, drinking water availability, groundwater levels, and rainfall conditions in their respective districts, and submit them to the Chief Minister and the state cabinet.
The Minister added that the state government has devised a special action plan to help districts overcome the rainfall deficit, provide reassurance to farmers, and implement measures to prevent drinking water shortages.
He stated that a comprehensive report on the prevailing rain-deficit conditions would be submitted to the Central Government, and steps would be taken to secure the necessary assistance and support from the Centre.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said that the government of Telangana is formulating comprehensive plans to ensure that El Nino does not affect the state’s people, especially the agriculture, drinking water, and power sectors.
He stated that the government’s goal is to provide complete awareness to the people about the El Nino impact. “If the severity of the problem is understood in advance, every family and every village can make their own proper plans,” the Deputy CM said.
He was speaking at the state-level awareness session on the theme “From temperature rise in the Pacific Ocean to Telangana’s preparedness,” organised by the Planning Department in Hyderabad.
Minister for minority welfare Mohammed Azharuddin also attended the programme.
The Deputy CM stated that scientists are analysing how temperature changes occurring in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, thousands of kilometres away, affect the state’s ponds, canals, and villages. The government is formulating action plans accordingly.
He stated that advance plans are being prepared to ensure no hardship arises for drinking water, irrigation water needs, as well as water and food requirements for cattle, birds, and wildlife.
He clarified that the main purpose of this session is to foster awareness among the people so that individuals, families, villages, mandals, and districts can prepare accordingly at their respective levels.
Bhatti Vikramarka said that the government is promoting a policy of alternative crops that yield with low water usage, based on expert recommendations, to ensure farmers do not suffer economic losses even if drought conditions arise.
He commended TV channels for effectively fulfilling their social responsibility by carrying this information to every home in rural areas through live broadcasts.
Bhatti Vikramarka, who is also the energy minister, stated that the government is implementing highly efficient energy management to meet the increased demand due to El Nino.
Maximising the use of abundantly available, low-cost solar power during daytime will reduce the financial burden on the people and the government will reduce, he stated. He clarified that grid stability is being maintained by efficiently utilising solar time and systematically using thermal power for subsequent needs.
With rising temperatures, usage of fans, ACs, lights, borewells, and lift irrigation motors has surged heavily, with no distinction between day and night, he said.
Normally, electricity demand is low during the monsoon season, but due to the El Nino effect, the current demand in Telangana has reached the April (summer) peak level, he said.
Noting that changes are occurring in electricity consumption in line with globally shifting seasons, he stated that Telangana will stay ahead in formulating energy planning accordingly to meet the increased needs.
(IANS)
