BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan blames Congress over drought preparedness

BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan accused the Congress government of ignoring early El Nino warnings and failing to prepare for a drought. He demanded an all-party Assembly discussion, immediate support for farmers, restoration of water supply and a white paper on Hyderabad's civic restructuring.

Hyderabad: BRS MLC Dasoju Sravan criticised the Congress government for its alleged lack of preparedness for the El Nino threat despite repeated warnings from weather agencies. He said the government’s inaction had pushed Telangana towards a serious farm and drinking water crisis. He demanded that the government hold an all-party discussion in the Assembly on the drought and water crisis.

In an open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, Sravan said the government ignored early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He alleged that no timely action was taken to protect farmers or conserve water.

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Citing official data, he said Telangana recorded a 35 per cent rainfall deficit as of July 16, with 27 of the State’s 33 districts receiving below-normal rainfall. He said water storage in the State’s eight major reservoirs had fallen to 44.5 TMCft from 104.5 TMCft during the corresponding period last year. He added that the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir was left with only 3.26 per cent of its live storage.

The BRS MLC said Vaanakalam (Kharif) cultivation had covered only about one-fourth of the normal area, with the cultivated extent dropping by more than 10 lakh acres compared to last year. He stated that the government announced contingency crop plans only after the sowing season had passed and delayed the release of Rythu Bharosa assistance.

He warned that the crisis could soon affect drinking water supply, groundwater, hydel power generation and the State’s finances if rainfall did not improve.

Sravan also criticised the government’s handling of water supply in Hyderabad. He said splitting the GHMC into three municipal corporations without holding elections had created an administrative vacuum and financial uncertainty.

He demanded that the government give top priority to drinking water, release pending Rythu Bharosa assistance, restore water supply through the Kaleshwaram project, publish a white paper on the restructuring of Hyderabad’s civic bodies, conduct an independent audit of lake restoration works and announce civic body elections.