Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju on Thursday inspected the Singur and Manjeera reservoirs amid concerns over the anticipated El Niño impact. He also reviewed contingency plans to maintain drinking water supplies across Hyderabad and four Telangana districts.
The inspection followed declining reservoir storage levels and changing weather conditions across the State. Consequently, Jaju directed senior officials to strengthen water management measures and prepare for drinking water requirements in the coming days.
During the visit, he reviewed alternative arrangements formulated by the government for uninterrupted drinking water supply. These plans covered Hyderabad and the districts of Sangareddy, Kamareddy, Nizamabad and Medak.
With water levels falling in both reservoirs, Jaju instructed officials to make efficient use of available resources. He also stressed the importance of advance planning to address potential drinking water requirements.
El Niño impact raises water management concerns
The Chief Secretary expressed concern over declining groundwater levels and called for closer monitoring of water consumption. Accordingly, he directed officials to assess water availability over the next 15 days and implement suitable management measures.
He also reviewed the changing weather conditions associated with the anticipated El Niño impact. According to the Chief Secretary, temperatures were reportedly running 2–3 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.
Jaju described these conditions as unusual for the period. Therefore, he instructed the departments concerned to closely monitor their effects on agricultural crops. He further identified the next 15–20 days as a critical period for standing crops. In this context, he urged farmers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
Meanwhile, Agriculture department officials received instructions to provide timely guidance to farmers at the field level. The Chief Secretary emphasised that such assistance should help farmers protect their standing crops during the prevailing weather conditions.
El Niño impact prompts coordination among departments
Jaju also directed the Electricity department to maintain uninterrupted power supply for agricultural requirements. He stressed that reliable electricity remained essential for meeting farming needs under the prevailing conditions.
Furthermore, he instructed the Agriculture, Electricity, Irrigation and other concerned departments to coordinate their activities closely. Their planning, he said, should account for both changing weather conditions and available water resources.
The Chief Secretary also directed officials to conduct personal assessments of conditions at the ground level. Additionally, he asked them to interact directly with farmers and local residents to understand their requirements.
He instructed the departments to create public awareness about the precautionary measures undertaken by the government. Officials were also asked to maintain close contact with communities while assessing local conditions and water requirements.