No water for farms and drinking, but plenty for brewing beer in Telangana?

Telangana’s Excise Department has reportedly sought water requirements from breweries in Sangareddy, with supply proposed from the Singur and Manjeera projects. The move comes amid concerns over low storage, weak inflows and pressure on irrigation and drinking water availability.

Hyderabad: Telangana may be grappling with a severe drinking water and irrigation water crisis amid the persisting El Nino effects, but when it comes to beer manufacturing, water appears to be in plenty.

The Telangana Excise Department has reportedly sought details of water requirements from breweries manufacturing beer, with the department also stating that the required quantity of water for manufacturing units in Sangareddy district would be supplied from the Singur and Manjeera projects.

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Sangareddy currently houses United Breweries Limited, Crown Beers India Pvt Ltd, American Brew Crafts Pvt Ltd and Carlsberg India.

The reported move has raised questions over the government’s priorities, particularly as groundwater levels are depleting and irrigation and drinking water needs remain a concern in areas dependent on the Singur and Manjeera projects.

The Singur project, which is currently undergoing repair works, is considered the lifeline for irrigation needs in Sangareddy and surrounding districts, while the Manjeera project fulfils the drinking water needs of Hyderabad.

Scarce water

The Singur project, which is currently undergoing repairs, has a Full Tank Capacity of 29.91 TMC and currently holds a mere 3.9 TMC. Meanwhile, the Manjeera project, which has a Full Tank Capacity of 1.5 TMC, currently holds only 0.210 TMC. The project, which usually receives inflows in September and October, has barely seen any inflows this year.

The reported proposal to supply water to breweries from these projects assumes significance against the backdrop of the prevailing water stress in the State and concerns over the availability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.

Srisailam water plan raises questions

State Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao, in a recent statement, said that the government would use water from the Srisailam project for liquor production.

BRS Legislature Party Deputy Leader and former Minister T Harish Rao strongly criticised the Minister’s statement, saying, “El Nino appeared to affect electricity and irrigation for farmers but not liquor production and sales.”

Harish Rao also alleged that the Revanth Reddy government was more concerned about increasing liquor revenue than addressing the welfare of farmers and people.

The reported decision to seek water requirements from breweries, coupled with the government’s statement on using Srisailam project water for liquor production, is now raising questions over how water resources are being prioritised at a time when Telangana is facing pressure on both irrigation and drinking water availability.