Seethakka sanctions special funds for drinking water arrangements amid El Niño

Hyderabad: Minister Seethakka announced special funds for drinking water arrangements across Telangana to tackle possible shortages linked to the El Niño effect. The government sanctioned Rs 120 crore for alternative drinking water requirements in Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy and Nizamabad districts. It also approved Rs 1 crore each for immediate requirements in other districts.

Seethakka issued instructions to officials to speed up alternative arrangements with the allocated funds. She directed them to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supplies to the public. The Minister reviewed the state’s water supply situation during a teleconference with Mission Bhagiratha and Public Health engineers on Saturday morning.

She asked officials to use local water sources in areas facing shortages. Where necessary, they should hire borewells and arrange transport for tanker-based supplies. In addition, officials had to keep hand pumps, single-phase and three-phase water supply schemes, wells and other local sources ready.

Drinking water arrangements to cover vulnerable villages

Seethakka directed officials to identify villages likely to face interruptions in Mission Bhagiratha supply. They also had to locate areas where groundwater levels had fallen sharply. Accordingly, departments were asked to prepare alternative supply measures based on local requirements.

The Minister called for village-level awareness campaigns on water conservation and the possible effects of El Niño. She also instructed officials to monitor reservoir storage continuously and follow government guidelines.

Seethakka further asked officials to use recent rainfall in Hyderabad, Medchal, Khammam, Yadadri and other areas to improve groundwater recharge. She directed them to ensure that rainwater entered existing recharge pits and magic pits near drinking water sources.

Officials also had to complete all recharge structures currently under construction within two days. The teleconference included Mission Bhagiratha Engineer-in-Chief Krupakar Reddy, chief engineers and superintending engineers from Mission Bhagiratha and Public Health departments. Executive engineers from both departments also participated.