Telangana Assembly seeks comprehensive Central assistance to tackle El Nino crisis

The Telangana Assembly passed a resolution seeking comprehensive Central assistance to tackle the El Nino-induced crisis, including a Rs 20,000-crore special package, additional employment, power and coal supplies, fertiliser support, crop-loss assistance and higher borrowing limits.

Hyderabad: The Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution moved by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka seeking comprehensive Central assistance to tackle the El Nino-induced crisis. Speaker Gaddam Prasad adjourned the House sine die after the resolution was passed on the last day of the session.

The resolution sought an early visit by a Central team to assess the situation and immediate release of adequate assistance from the NDRF and the Centre’s share of the SDRF. It also sought support for crop-loss and input subsidies, drinking water, fodder, livestock protection, groundwater recharge, and restoration of tanks and other water resources, with relaxation of norms wherever necessary.

---

The State government urged the Centre to provide an additional 50 days of employment under VB-G RAM G over the existing 125 days, bear the entire expenditure and relax the 60-day seasonal suspension. It also sought an increase in the labour budget. The State sought timely and adequate fertiliser supplies, increased PDMC allocations for drip irrigation, assistance under MIDH to expand vegetable cultivation and subsidised seeds for alternative crops.

The resolution sought an additional 1,500 MW of power, 5 million tonnes of coal linkage under Window-I, more rake availability, and relief on transmission charges. It also demanded a Rs 20,000-crore special package for drinking and irrigation water and drought mitigation, increased assistance for tanks and ongoing irrigation projects, and an increase in the 2026-27 FRBM borrowing limit from 3 to 3.5 per cent of GSDP.

The State government requested additional assistance under Central and Centrally Sponsored schemes for farmers and vulnerable families, with necessary relaxation of norms.