Hyderabad: The Telangana Cabinet approved a Telangana drought action plan and decided to seek immediate Central assistance over severe rainfall shortages linked to El Niño. The Cabinet also sought a special Central team to assess losses across the state.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy chaired the 36th Cabinet meeting. Ministers reviewed the impact of El Niño and expressed serious concern over drought-like conditions. The Cabinet decided to send a detailed report to the Union government. It also resolved to request financial support for contingency measures across affected districts.
According to the Cabinet, no part of the state had recorded normal rainfall so far. It noted that several areas had received only 30% to 35% of expected rainfall. Therefore, the Cabinet directed all departments to prepare advance plans. It asked officials to prevent disruptions in drinking water, irrigation and electricity supply.
Telangana drought action plan prioritises drinking water
The Telangana drought action plan gave top priority to drinking water needs. The Cabinet directed district collectors to remain alert and prevent shortages in any area. Collectors were also asked to respond immediately to public complaints. Moreover, officials had to review local water sources and prepare emergency supply arrangements.
The Cabinet decided to reserve available project water for drinking purposes when necessary. It also asked departments to avoid power cuts and maintain uninterrupted electricity supply. Ministers discussed measures required across drinking water, irrigation and power sectors. They also reviewed ways to reduce hardship for residents during the prolonged dry spell.
The Cabinet appealed to farmers to cultivate less water-intensive crops. It advised them to choose crops suited to the prevailing rainfall and water availability. In addition, the government decided to conduct awareness meetings across Telangana. These programmes would explain drought conditions and available contingency measures.
The Cabinet scheduled district-level meetings for the 20th of this month. The minister in charge of each erstwhile district would lead the meetings with a senior IAS officer.
Public representatives, Agriculture Department officials, experts and scientists would attend the meetings. They would assess local conditions and prepare detailed district-wise reports. Those reports would cover rainfall shortages, agricultural impact and estimated losses. Subsequently, the government would use them for its submission to the Centre.
Telangana drought action plan includes farmer helpline
Following the Chief Minister’s directions, the government set up a toll-free helpline at Praja Bhavan. The Agriculture Department would operate the service. The helpline would function daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Farmers and members of the public could contact it through 1-800-123-7157.
Officials would use the helpline to receive complaints and provide guidance. They would also share information on crops, water use and local agricultural conditions. Meanwhile, the Cabinet asked the State Planning Board to prepare a special report on El Niño’s impact on agriculture. Vice-Chairman G. Chinna Reddy would lead the exercise.
Agricultural experts and scientists would contribute to the report. The study would assess risks to crops and recommend suitable responses. The Cabinet also directed departments to monitor changing conditions continuously. Accordingly, officials had to update field-level plans whenever rainfall or water availability changed.
Cabinet orders Dharani portal investigation
Apart from the Telangana drought action plan, the Cabinet decided to order a comprehensive inquiry into alleged irregularities linked to the Dharani portal. It approved the formation of a Special Investigation Team. The team would examine alleged violations in land records and land transactions processed through the portal.
The inquiry would cover the Dharani tender process and all subsequent allegations. It would also examine developments from the portal’s launch until the present date. The government introduced Dharani on October 29, 2020. Therefore, the investigation would examine transactions recorded from that date onward.
The SIT would scrutinise land registrations and changes made to ownership records. It would also examine transfers involving agricultural land, assigned land and government land.
In addition, investigators would review every suspicious transaction identified during the period. The Cabinet directed the team to examine the issues in depth. Ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Ponnam Prabhakar and Adluri Laxman Kumar later briefed the media. They explained the decisions taken during the Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet clears municipal and panchayat amendments
The Cabinet also approved a proposal to amend the Telangana Municipalities Act, 2019. The amendment would allow transgender persons to serve as co-opted members in municipal corporations.
The decision aimed to provide representation for transgender communities in urban local bodies. The government would move the required amendment through the legislative process.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved an amendment bill concerning gram panchayat funds. The proposal would allow local bodies to deposit funds in nationalised banks, cooperative banks or post offices.
For this purpose, the Cabinet approved changes to the Telangana Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. The amendment would expand the permitted options for managing gram panchayat funds. The Cabinet said these decisions formed part of its administrative and legislative agenda. However, the severe rainfall deficit remained the central issue during the meeting.
The government maintained that departments needed close coordination to handle the situation. It also stressed rapid responses to public complaints and field-level problems.
Finally, the Cabinet resolved to submit the drought report to the Centre without delay. It sought both technical assessment and financial support for implementing the Telangana drought action plan.