HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to ensure the planned release of irrigation water across Telangana’s major projects. With summer temperatures rising, he asked the Irrigation Department to anticipate challenges and take necessary precautions. For the next three months, officials must stay vigilant, conduct field inspections, and implement solutions to protect standing crops and support farmers.
Review Meeting on Water Management
On Monday, CM Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation at the Command Control Centre. They discussed water storage levels and usage in key reservoirs, including Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and SRSP. The chief minister instructed officials to use available water efficiently, ensuring uninterrupted supply for irrigation and drinking purposes.
Action Plan for Water and Power Demands
CM Revanth Reddy noted that water and electricity demand would rise significantly in the coming months. He directed district collectors to prepare action plans for irrigation and drinking water supply. These plans must be coordinated with relevant departments to prevent shortages.
Monitoring Water Releases in Command Areas
District collectors overseeing Nagarjuna Sagar and SRSP projects must conduct immediate reviews with irrigation engineers. They should personally inspect water releases and crop conditions. The chief secretary will hold a teleconference with all district collectors to finalise the agenda and issue necessary directives.
Preventing Excess Water Drawn by Andhra Pradesh
Addressing concerns over Krishna River water usage, Revanth Reddy directed officials to monitor Andhra Pradesh’s withdrawals. He stressed the need for telemetry systems to track water usage accurately. Officials will send a letter to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) to implement these measures. Since Andhra Pradesh has not agreed to share the telemetry costs, Telangana will initially bear the full expense to speed up implementation.
Seeking Central Government Intervention
Revanth Reddy reminded officials that the Central Water Commission oversees water-sharing allocations. If Andhra Pradesh continues drawing excess water, Telangana will formally request central intervention.
