El Nino prompts Telangana Irrigation Minister to call for plan to prioritize drinking water over irrigation

Telangana Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has urged farmers to be vigilant during the ongoing Kharif season due to the impact of El Nino, which has led to weakening of the Southwest Monsoon and reduced rainfall in various parts of the country.

The Irrigation Minister said that the water available in the reservoirs must be used judiciously and that a comprehensive plan needs to be made to prioritize drinking water needs over allocating water for irrigation.

He suggested that farmers in areas with less water availability look for crops that need less water and can tolerate heat instead of growing water-intensive crops. They were asked to closely monitor weather conditions and adjust their farming practices accordingly.

During a tour of Huzurnagar and Kodad constituencies in Suryapet on Friday, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that a large part of the Godavari river basin is in Maharashtra where there has been less rainfall. This delayed the inflows to Telangana.

As the southwest monsoon has weakened due to El Nino, India has seen nearly 40% below normal over the past month, making it one of the driest Junes in years, he said. Telangana too fell nearly 22% below normal in June, impacting sowing in various parts of the state.

The government is closely monitoring the rainfall and the water level in the reservoirs and will take appropriate decisions based on the situation.

Meanwhile, D. Raji Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, has advised farmers to grow crops that require less water like vegetables, grains, oilseeds and pulses in view of the El Nino phenomenon and the expected drop in water levels in the Krishna and Godavari reservoirs.

Addressing the ‘Annual Action Plan’ program organized by 16 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Telangana at the College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, he urged farmers to opt for eco-friendly crops, noting that the currently dominant crops cannot withstand El Nino-related fluctuations in rainfall. He stressed the need to promote horticultural crops extensively to turn the impact of El Nino into an opportunity.

Published – 03 Jul 2026 23:49 IST