Hyderabad: The Revanth Reddy drought warning highlighted the risk of severe drought conditions in Telangana by July, with drinking water shortages expected to become a major concern. Addressing a key Congress meeting organised by the TPCC, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said drought effects would become more visible as summer progressed.
Revanth Reddy addressed ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs at the meeting. He briefed party leaders on El Niño and MLC elections while urging them to prepare for the potential impact of drought.
The Chief Minister said drought might appear manageable initially, but its effects would intensify over time. He warned that rising temperatures could make life difficult and affect both irrigation and drinking water supplies. In some areas, he said, extreme heat could make it difficult for people to leave their homes.
Revanth Reddy drought warning cites El Niño risks
Revanth Reddy criticised those who, he said, were politicising the drought threat. He questioned whether the “uncle and nephew” leaders were the only ones capable of explaining the situation as a drought caused by Congress. He also pointed to drought conditions in Maharashtra, saying some areas there were distributing water through ration shops.
The Chief Minister said the government had been alerting people to the risk for six months. He added that El Niño was affecting around 100 countries, although its impact varied by region. Even highly developed states and countries, including Britain, were facing drought-related effects, he said.
Revanth Reddy compared drought with other natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis. He said such events could not simply be prevented through political decisions. Although authorities could prepare alternatives and mitigation measures, some impacts might remain unavoidable.
He warned that drought could become increasingly severe as time passed. Therefore, he urged party leaders to take the threat seriously rather than dismissing it as a political issue.
The Chief Minister also criticised former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revanth Reddy said people who relied on Rao’s claim that Crocin could treat COVID-19 had suffered. He alleged that many people died during the pandemic after trusting such statements.
He also warned farmers against relying on statements by BRS leader Harish Rao when deciding whether to sow crops. Revanth Reddy said farmers could face serious hardship if they made agricultural decisions based on such assurances.
The Chief Minister reiterated that drought conditions could worsen as summer progressed, with the impact potentially extending to drinking water availability by July.