Expert panel calls for prudent use of water and power amid El Nino

Chairman of the Expert Committee constituted to assess the impact of the prevailing El Nino conditions G. Chinna Reddy said that Telangana is responding to the emerging situation through meticulous planning, scientific assessment and coordinated governance.

Addressing the first meeting of the 27-member multi-disciplinary Expert Committee on Wednesday, Mr. Chinna Reddy, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Board, said that district-wise and mandal-wise weather data, rainfall status and crop area details for rainfall-deficit districts had been compiled to enable scientific assessment and evidence-based decision-making.

The committee has been constituted by the State government to prepare a State-level contingency action plan and recommend mitigation and adaptation measures for agriculture and allied sectors.

Emphasising the need for judicious use of water and electricity, he said behavioural change, sustained public awareness and community participation are essential to complement government initiatives.

Irrigation Secretary E. Sridhar informed the committee that inflows into most reservoirs remained significantly below normal. He stressed the need to closely monitor rainfall forecasts in Maharashtra and Karnataka, noting that upstream rainfall would have a significant bearing on water availability in Telangana. He also underlined the importance of prudent reservoir management to safeguard irrigation and drinking water needs.

Special Chief Secretary (Energy) Navin Mittal highlighted the challenges posed by reduced hydropower generation, rising electricity demand and peak-hour shortages. He called for judicious power consumption, optimum utilisation of solar energy and integrated energy planning to manage the evolving situation.

Commissioner of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR&RD) Divya Devarajan, Director of Agriculture Gopi, and experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), ICRISAT, ICAR-CRIDA, NABARD and varsity professors attended the meeting among others.