Focus on water security amid El Niño fears: Minister to officials

Minister-in-Charge Anam Rama Narayana Reddy, along with other ministers and officers, attends the District Review Committee (DRC) meeting of Prakasam and Markapuram districts in Ongola on Wednesday. | Photo credit: KOMMURI SRINIVAS

Amid fears of El Niño, officials have been directed to act in a planned manner to avoid problems with drinking and irrigation water, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, minister for endowments and minister-in-charge of Prakasam and Markapuram districts, said during the District Review Committee (DRC) meeting at Prakasam Bhavan in Ongola on Wednesday.

Minister of State for Power Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Minister for Social Welfare Dr. Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Magunta MP Sreenivasulu Reddy, Collector Prakasam P. Raja Babu, Markapuram Collector Vijaya Sunitha, Police Inspector V. Harshavardhan Raju and MLAs attended the meeting of district officials, along with other MLA district officials.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anam said, “Government is developing Markapuram district into a horticulture hub and providing necessary equipment and spraying systems to farmers. It is specifically focused on ensuring that the public benefits from the Veligonda project. The next DRC meeting will be held separately in Markapuram and Prakasam districts.”

Mr. Gottipati further added, “During the current El Niño conditions, releasing water from reservoirs for fishing is inappropriate and such wastage of water is causing a drop in the water table in nearby villages. Roads are dug up to lay drinking water pipes, but then they are not properly restored. The contractors who are laying the pipes must be held accountable and must repair the roads properly.”

Mr. Swamy said, “If the forest department officials had acted proactively, the land could have been transferred to the revenue department and used for setting up industries. Near Bapuji Colony, near East Naidupalem, people are forced to travel about three kilometers just to cross the state highway. The officials should take immediate action to solve these problems.”

Published – 15 Jul 2026 21:46 IST