Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy called for comprehensive Telangana drought preparedness measures at state and district levels. He stressed advance planning, adequate funding for district collectors and coordination among government departments to tackle the emerging situation.
Uttam Kumar Reddy made the recommendations at the first meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on drought and El Niño conditions at the Secretariat on Friday. The panel was formed to assess the situation and recommend mitigation measures. It discussed steps to protect drinking water supplies, meet irrigation needs, safeguard crops and provide timely relief to vulnerable communities.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka chaired the meeting. Ministers Thummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Seethakka and Vakiti Srihari attended. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju was also present.
The participants stressed the need for a coordinated and timely response across Telangana. They discussed preparations to address the developing drought situation and reduce its possible impact on people and agriculture.
Telangana drought preparedness to include district-level action plans
Uttam Kumar Reddy said the government should prioritise advance preparation rather than wait for problems to arise. Therefore, district collectors and departmental officials were asked to coordinate closely and identify local risks before conditions worsened.
He called for district-specific action plans to identify vulnerable areas and assess potential shortages. These plans should also specify the measures required to address emergencies.
The minister stressed that adequate financial resources must be available to district collectors. In addition, departments need to coordinate their preparations to protect drinking water supplies and meet irrigation requirements.
The committee also focused on safeguarding crops and ensuring timely relief for people in vulnerable areas. These priorities formed part of the proposed Telangana drought preparedness strategy as the state assessed the risks associated with drought and El Niño.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee reviewed the need for preventive measures, local assessments and coordinated administrative action during its first meeting at the Secretariat on Friday.