Hyderabad: Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy urged Nalgonda farmers to avoid paddy amid El Nino concerns and low Nagarjuna Sagar water levels.
He said the available Nagarjuna Sagar water should be reserved for drinking needs. Moreover, he said fresh inflows from upstream appeared unlikely.
Komatireddy spoke at the District Irrigation Advisory Board meeting in the Nalgonda Collectorate on Saturday. Further, he asked officials and public representatives to guide farmers towards dryland crops.
The Minister said Nagarjuna Sagar was at dead storage. Even if Srisailam supplied water, he said irrigation releases would remain difficult.
He said the available Nagarjuna Sagar water could meet drinking needs until June 2027. Meanwhile, he said the AMRP was only half full.
He described the situation as unprecedented in the district. Therefore, he asked officials to help farmers plan crops carefully.
Komatireddy warned that a possible Super El Nino could affect rainfall in south Telangana. He urged farmers to shift from paddy to less water-intensive crops.
The district had already shifted about 33,000 acres from paddy to alternative crops. In addition, Komatireddy set a target of 1.5 lakh acres for crop diversification.
He asked officials to explain the risks of repeated paddy cultivation. Excessive fertiliser use could also reduce soil fertility, he said.
El Nino concerns prompt crop diversification
The Minister encouraged vegetable, horticulture and organic farming. Further, he promised action to secure 5,000 sprinkler units for the district.
Komatireddy said about 9,000 transformers in the district faced overload. He assured officials that he would discuss the issue with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and seek the required electrical equipment.
He also said SLBC tunnel works would continue despite the water shortage. Finally, he said the government aimed to complete the project by August 2028.
Komatireddy said the Chief Minister had directed officials to spend whatever was necessary on SLBC. He said the project could provide irrigation even when Srisailam reached dead storage.
He asked officials to visit villages and support farmers during the difficult period. In addition, he directed the district administration to hold irrigation advisory meetings regularly.
MLC Shankar Naik said the expected impact of El Nino could worsen irrigation difficulties. He urged officials and public representatives to promote crop diversification.
District Collector B. Chandrasekhar said the district faced inadequate rainfall and low project levels. Meanwhile, he said the administration had formed the advisory board to plan irrigation, drinking water and other needs.
The Collector said weather inputs pointed to continued Super El Nino conditions in September. He said northern Telangana could receive scattered rainfall, while southern Telangana could remain largely dry.
He urged agriculture and horticulture officials to reach farmers at the field level. Finally, he said farmers had time to take up dryland crops only until August 15.