Telangana CM likens El Nino impact to COVID-19 calamity; says next 8–10 months crucial

Warning of a looming crisis triggered by El Nino, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday appealed to farmers to immediately shift away from water-intensive paddy to less water-demanding, irrigated dry crops and urged the public to conserve water and electricity. Calling the situation a calamity on par with the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the next eight to ten months—until the arrival of the next monsoon—will be critical and sought cooperation across sectors and political lines to navigate the challenge.

Deficit rainfall leaves reservoirs low, crops vulnerable

At a press conference in Hyderabad on October 15, the Chief Minister outlined an alarming water scarcity outlook following deficit monsoon rainfall. Preliminary estimates indicate that crops spread across more than 13 lakh acres are likely to be affected due to inadequate irrigation. Reservoirs across the State are collectively holding about 209 tmcft of water at present—less than half of the more than 450 tmcft available around the same time last year—underlining the severity of the shortfall.

The distress is already visible in parts of rural Telangana, with paddy fields drying up in areas such as Pulkal mandal of Sangareddy district. The government is now working to salvage as much of the standing crop as possible, especially those that are expected to be ready for harvest in the next 20 days.

“Avoid water-intensive crops”: CM’s appeal to farmers

The Chief Minister cautioned farmers against sowing paddy or other water-heavy crops in the rabi season, warning that pumping under depleted groundwater conditions could damage equipment and further compound losses. “There is a chance of water shortages. Motors can burn down, causing additional losses. The government appeals to farmers to avoid water-intensive crops,” he said.

Urging resource conservation, he added: “The next eight to ten months, till the next monsoon, are crucial. The government seeks cooperation of all sections in overcoming the calamity.”

Record power demand and tight supply

The deepening water stress is feeding into a parallel power crunch. As farmers raced to run borewells and lift irrigation systems, Telangana’s energy demand surged to a record 20,003 MW on Thursday—over 6,000 MW above the roughly 14,000 MW typically recorded under normal conditions. With a large proportion of the State’s approximately 33 lakh agricultural pump sets operating simultaneously, pressure on the power system has intensified.

The Chief Minister said the government is purchasing additional electricity at higher prices to bridge the gap, but availability on power exchanges remains constrained. “Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is ready to purchase power at ₹15 a unit. But power is not available in the exchanges,” he said, pointing to a broader regional squeeze on supply.

Appeal to the Centre; Cabinet panel formed

Noting that several other States are also reeling under El Nino’s impact, Mr. Reddy said Telangana has sought the Union government’s intervention to ensure that power is made available to the State irrespective of the cost. Drawing a parallel with the pandemic response, he said the current situation requires support that transcends politics. “We followed whatever instructions that are given by the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. El Nino is no less a calamity and the Centre should come to our help,” he stated.

To formulate a comprehensive response, the government has set up a Cabinet sub-committee under Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. The panel will prepare a concrete action plan and coordinate with the Centre to mitigate the adverse impacts across sectors, with a particular focus on agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Immediate relief and medium-term measures

The Chief Minister said the administration is taking steps on a war footing to protect standing crops that are close to harvest while preparing for a lean water scenario in the months ahead. Priorities include:

– Ensuring uninterrupted drinking water supply across the State.

– Stabilising power availability by augmenting procurement where possible and managing peak loads.

– Steering farmers towards irrigated dry crops and other alternatives to reduce water demand.

Mr. Reddy added that the government has requested landowners to switch to less water-intensive crops, and it will work out mechanisms to compensate part of the losses that such a shift may entail.

Support for rural employment

To cushion agricultural labourers from the expected downturn in farm activity, the State plans to utilise the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) to provide employment opportunities in rural areas. Details of the deployment plan are expected to be drawn up by the newly constituted sub-committee.

Statewide call for conservation and cooperation

Reiterating the need for prudent resource use, the Chief Minister urged households, industry and the farm community to adopt strict conservation measures for both water and electricity. He warned that without collective effort, equipment failures, crop damage and service disruptions could multiply, exacerbating the crisis.

“The government appeals to farmers to avoid water-intensive crops,” he said, urging a pragmatic approach to crop planning and irrigation practices through the dry months ahead.

What to expect next

The Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Deputy Chief Minister is expected to meet with key departments and stakeholders to chart sector-specific strategies, including crop advisories, power procurement plans and water rationing protocols, if required. The State will continue to press the Union government for support on power availability and other relief measures.

For now, officials say the primary focus remains on safeguarding drinking water supplies, saving harvest-ready crops over the next three weeks, and guiding farmers toward resilient, less water-demanding cultivation until monsoon 2027.