The Telangana government held an all-party meeting on El Nino and drought at the Secretariat on Wednesday. Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka chaired it, with ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Seethakka and Vakiti Srihari. Leaders of BRS, BJP, AIMIM, CPI, CPM and TJS attended.
- 365 of 621 mandals declared drought-hit across 31 districts: 111 severe, 254 moderate
- Monsoon rain 615.5 mm against a normal 740.6 mm, a 17% deficit
- Paddy area down 18%, from 69.19 lakh to 57 lakh acres
- Reservoir live storage 179.63 tmc ft against 585 tmc ft capacity
Bhatti asked all parties to face El Nino together without politics. He said the drought report had already been sent to the Centre and that he would lead all-party leaders to Delhi if needed to seek help from Union ministers. He listed drinking water, irrigation, power, and water and fodder for cattle as priorities.
Opposition's charges
BRS leader and former minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy said, "We told the government it lacked the foresight to tackle the drought." BRS demanded ₹50,000 per acre for farmers and alleged the government did not lift available Krishna and Godavari water; Bhatti replied that it followed National Dam Safety Authority guidance. Niranjan Reddy said BRS would back the government if it takes proper steps and would wait for its action plan.
BJP legislature party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy said the government gave no assurance on compensation for kharif crop loss or for the Yasangi season, and noted that Maharashtra and Gujarat have already allocated drought funds. Other parties sought a white paper on river waters, an urban employment guarantee scheme and essentials through ration shops; AIMIM questioned Hyderabad's water shortage. The government said it will prepare a comprehensive action plan using the suggestions.
