Telangana Unveils El Niño Preparedness Plan Across Key Sectors

The Telangana Government is stepping up its preparedness for the challenges posed by El Niño, with a focus on protecting farmers, conserving water resources and ensuring uninterrupted power supply. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Tuesday said the state is relying on scientific assessments and coordinated planning to strengthen its resilience against climate-related risks and minimise the impact of adverse weather conditions.

Addressing an awareness seminar titled "From Rising Pacific Ocean Temperatures to Telangana's Preparedness", organised by the Planning Department at Ravindra Bharathi, Bhatti said the government is working with scientists and climate experts to assess how rising sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean could affect rainfall, reservoirs, streams and groundwater across Telangana. Minister Mohammed Azharuddin also attended the programme.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the state has initiated contingency measures to protect farmers from possible rainfall deficits associated with El Niño by promoting low-water-intensive alternative crops. He said the government is also ensuring adequate availability of drinking water, irrigation supplies and water for livestock, while expanding awareness programmes to villages so that communities are better prepared to deal with changing climate conditions.

Bhatti said the findings of scientific studies are being translated into practical action plans to improve the state's climate resilience. He also appreciated television channels for playing a socially responsible role in spreading awareness about the effects of climate change and preparedness measures, particularly among rural communities.

Highlighting the impact of rising temperatures, Bhatti said electricity demand during the ongoing monsoon has reached levels normally witnessed during peak summer, driven by increased use of air conditioners, fans, borewells and lift irrigation systems. To meet the surge, the government has adopted smart energy management, maximising the use of solar power during daytime while optimising thermal generation to maintain grid stability and reduce electricity procurement costs.

Explaining the broader context, Bhatti noted that El Niño, caused by abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often weakens the Indian monsoon, leading to below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures across several regions. He said Telangana is integrating climate science with policy planning across the agriculture, water and power sectors to improve long-term resilience. The Deputy Chief Minister also directed officials to organise similar awareness programmes in every district to ensure scientific information reaches the grassroots and encourages greater public participation in the state's climate preparedness efforts.