PR&RD Minister orders officials to prepare for summer drinking water needs
PR & RD Minister Seethakka reviews the programs of PR, RD and RWS departments at a regional meeting at Rangareddy district collectorate in Hyderabad on Saturday.
HYDERABAD
Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka directed officials to take early measures to avoid drinking water shortage during the coming summer, citing all the likely effects of El Nino.
Reviewing the programs of the Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Supply departments at a regional meeting in Rangareddy district collectorate on Saturday, she said that 19 reservoirs are supplying drinking water to the erstwhile districts of Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Medak.
While most reservoirs have adequate storage, Singur has less than the required level, she said, stressing that a special officer should be appointed to monitor drinking water supply in the area, while efforts to divert water from Nizamsagar to Singur should be expedited.
Singur currently had about 54 days of water supply. Using local water resources, the ministry was taking measures to extend availability to about 75 days, she said.
Ms. Seethakka also directed officials to form three-member drinking water management committees in each mandal. Committees should assess water availability, identify alternative sources and pay special attention to Chenchu tribal areas and villages.
As agricultural activity is likely to decline due to dry conditions, eligible families should be given employment under the Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, she said. About ₹6,000 crore has been made available for the scheme and officials are expected to use the funds for infrastructure and water conservation works.
As many as 5,118 gram panchayats in the state did not have their own buildings and the government had sanctioned ₹1,000 crore for their construction, she said. Work on 3,269 buildings has reached 70% completion and the remaining buildings were expected to be completed this year.
Buildings for women’s groups were also being constructed in 8,000 villages at a cost of ₹800 crore, with the work in its final stages, she said.
Published – 26 Sep 2026 21:17 IST