Congress MLC Vijayashanthi has questioned the Telangana government over the sharp increase in fine rice prices despite the state being a major rice producer. She alleged a failure to regulate prices and sought transparency in rice stock management.
Farmers’ groups and political parties in erstwhile Khammam district have alleged inconsistencies in Telangana’s drought-hit mandals list and sought the inclusion of more mandals. They have also demanded crop-loss surveys and compensation for farmers affected by drought.
The Telangana government's all-party meeting on drought conditions linked to El Nino concluded without announcing specific relief measures or a concrete action plan. Opposition parties, particularly the BRS, criticised Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's absence and questioned the government's preparedness, water management and delay in addressing the crisis affecting farmers.
The Telangana government's decision to prohibit new borewells for construction and other non-drinking-water purposes from November 1 has triggered concerns across the construction sector in Hyderabad. Builders fear higher project costs and delays, daily wage workers worry about loss of income, while borewell rig operators apprehend financial distress.
Private educational institutions in Mancherial district have launched awareness programmes on water conservation and climate change in the backdrop of prevailing El Nino conditions and a rainfall deficit.
The BRS on Saturday accused the Congress government in Telangana of failing to take timely measures to tackle the impact of El Nino and then attempting to shift blame to the previous regime for the ongoing power and water shortages. Former Energy Minister G Jagadishwar Reddy defended the BRS government's record on power management and rejected the Congress government's criticism of the Yadadri thermal power plant and electricity procurement policies.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy blamed the previous BRS government and the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme for the state's reduced ability to cope with drought conditions during the El Nino period.
