Telangana Villages To Prepare For El Niño Impact With Focus On Water, Crops

Telangana is stepping up preparations to minimise the impact of possible El Niño-induced dry conditions, with the state government asking villages to adopt advance plans focused on water conservation, crop diversification, groundwater recharge and long-term rural development.

A state-level workshop on El Niño preparedness was held on Friday at the Telangana Institute of Rural Development (TGIRD), Rajendranagar). Ministers Tummala Nageswara Rao, Danasari Anasuya Seethakka and Vakiti Srihari, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, Rajya Sabha MP Vem Narender Reddy and senior officials from several departments attended the meeting.

The ministers called for coordinated action by the agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, panchayat raj and rural development departments. They said every village should prepare an integrated development plan based on immediate needs as well as requirements over the next five to 10 years. Plans should originate in gram sabhas, while all development works should be geo-tagged.

The government plans to make water conservation the centrepiece of its preparedness strategy. Officials were asked to promote recharge pits for every household, farm ponds for every crop and spring ponds for every village. Farm ponds can help replenish groundwater while also supporting agriculture and fish farming.

Vem Narender Reddy called for the planned utilisation of VBG-RAMG funds to create permanent community assets. He cautioned against taking up unnecessary works merely to meet targets and urged officials to prioritise projects with wider and lasting public benefits rather than focusing only on roads and drainage.

Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao urged farmers to shift towards alternative crops depending on local conditions. He noted that nearly 30 lakh borewells support agriculture in Telangana, making groundwater recharge particularly important.

He said the state had expanded oil palm cultivation by about one lakh acres in the past two years, with a target of increasing plantations by two lakh acres every year.

Minister Seethakka said villages must be prepared from now itself. She described the GPSAP as a roadmap for village development rather than merely a document and asked field-level officials to educate farmers about alternative crops and water conservation. She also directed officials to expedite construction of women’s self-help group buildings.

Minister Vakiti Srihari stressed crop rotation and awareness about drought-resilient farming. He called for measures to protect livestock, ensure water for fisheries and create dedicated grazing areas for goats and sheep. He also emphasised storing rainwater through tanks and check dams.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju said nearly 20 lakh acres were still awaiting paddy transplantation and directed officials to promote alternative crops wherever necessary. He warned that dry conditions could intensify in September and called for greater vigilance.

The government is also planning to promote agriculture, horticulture and floriculture in peri-urban areas, along with allied industries.

The ministers and Chief Secretary launched an initiative to establish a dedicated website for every gram panchayat. The portals will provide details on village population, resources, requirements, development plans and works undertaken by various departments.

Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Special Chief Secretary Dana Kishore said the initiative would improve transparency by making village development plans and funding details accessible to the public. By integrating different departments, the government aims to make Telangana’s gram panchayats more transparent, self-reliant and digitally connected.