El Niño Warning: Minister Ponguleti Urges Farmers to Avoid Second Crop

Telangana Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has urged farmers to avoid cultivating a second crop due to concerns over the potential impact of El Niño on water availability. Warning of a possible severe water crisis, he called on people and farmers to remain alert and directed officials to take advance measures to prevent drinking water shortages.

The minister assured farmers that the government was making every effort to protect the standing first crop. With groundwater levels declining and electricity supplies under pressure, he advised farmers to assess water availability carefully before making further cultivation decisions.

During his visit to Kusumanchi mandal in Khammam district on Sunday, Ponguleti inaugurated development projects and laid foundation stones for new infrastructure. These included a ₹1.63 crore BT road between Mangalithanda and Dubbathanda, funded through the ITDA, and a ₹45 lakh overhead water tank and pipeline project at Jujjul Rao Peta. He also inaugurated a gram panchayat office constructed in Mangalithanda at a cost of ₹20 lakh.

The minister visited Hatiyathanda to console the family of Bashu, father of former MPTC member Badavath Veeranna, who had recently passed away.

Ponguleti expressed concern over the worsening electricity shortage, noting that power previously available at ₹7–8 per unit had become difficult to secure. Even paying ₹15 per unit did not guarantee adequate supplies, he said. He instructed officials to prepare plans to address potential drinking water shortages.

He added that El Niño was severely affecting southern states. A ministerial delegation led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy would visit New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and Union ministers, explain Telangana's situation and seek a special financial package. The delegation would also request additional workdays in rural areas under the VB-G RAM G scheme.

Ponguleti distributed cheques worth ₹30,03,480 to 30 beneficiaries from Kusumanchi mandal under the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes. Collector Divakara T.S. and Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt attended the programme, along with public representatives, Congress leaders and officials. The minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting economically weaker families through welfare programmes.