El Nino crisis: State failed to conserve water, secure coal reserves despite expert warnings

Telangana’s water and power preparedness is under scrutiny amid El Niño concerns, low water storage and coal stocks. Retired engineers say opportunities to lift Godavari supplies were missed, while the BRS alleges Krishna water diversion. Contingency planning faces renewed questions

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s water and power management has come under scrutiny amid early warnings from experts about a potential crisis due to El Niño, well before the Vanakalam season. Experts and scientists had cautioned the government to take preventive measures in anticipation of water and power shortages. Although the government claimed to have prepared contingency plans, questions are now being raised about their effective implementation.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has acknowledged that the power crisis could intensify in the coming days. “Despite the government being prepared to incur any necessary expenditure to procure the required electricity for the State, power availability in the market is limited,” he said at a review meeting with officials on Saturday.

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He directed officials to ensure the prudent use of available electricity and take measures to temporarily defer electricity-intensive activities wherever possible.

Amid concerns over a looming water crisis, the Chief Minister also directed officials to assess standing crops and ensure an adequate water supply until harvesting is completed. He stressed the need for special measures to prevent the situation from worsening. “Precautions should be taken to ensure not a single drop of water goes to waste,” Revanth Reddy said.

These concerns have emerged amid reports that the State failed to store sufficient water, particularly from the Godavari, and maintain adequate coal reserves for thermal power generation.

Before the commencement of the Vanakalam season, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao, citing expert warnings about the potential impact of El Niño, had appealed to farmers to diversify their crops. However, critics say similar foresight appeared to be lacking in the Irrigation and Power departments.

In July, when the Godavari was flowing downstream towards the sea, the Telangana Retired Engineers Association (TREA) appealed to the government to operate the Kanepalli, Annaram and Sundilla barrages and lift water. The retired engineers suggested technical measures to lift water from Medigadda whenever sufficient flood flows were available in the Pranahita.

They said conditions were favourable for lifting water, as the Minimum Drawdown Level (MDDL) required to supply water to the Kanepalli pumping station at Medigadda was 93.5 metres. The flood level at the time was 97.5 metres under open-gate conditions. Under these circumstances, around 3 TMC ft of water could have been lifted daily from the Kanepalli pumping station, they said. The retired engineers also offered voluntary services to the government, but their appeals were not acted upon.

The Chief Minister, however, said the government had erred by failing to initiate action against some retired engineers. He accused them of colluding with the previous BRS government in alleged irregularities and of benefiting financially through contractors.

Similarly, in August, the BRS demanded that the Congress government take measures to stop the unauthorised drawal of Krishna water through the Nagarjunasagar Right Canal. The party alleged that 11 TMC ft had already been diverted from the Srisailam reservoir through the Veligonda tunnel. It charged that the State government had failed to stop the drawal.

Coal reserves

The government’s coal reserves have also come under scrutiny. With low water levels in major dams posing challenges to hydel power generation, thermal power remains an important alternative. However, questions have been raised over an alleged shortfall of 40 lakh tonnes of coal from Singareni. Coal stocks at major thermal power stations are reportedly sufficient for only about a week.

Adding to the concerns, allegations have surfaced that the State government signed an agreement to supply power from the proposed 800 MW Singareni thermal power plant to Rajasthan even as Telangana faces a power shortage.

Whether a crop holiday or power holiday will be declared as a corrective measure is a major concern for farmers preparing for the next season and for industrial units.