Telangana’s Rs 30,000-crore drought relief plea hits Delhi roadblock

Telangana's Congress government failed to secure a concrete Centre's assurance on its proposed Rs 30,000-crore drought relief package despite a three-day Delhi visit by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Cabinet Ministers, while farmers continue facing drought-related crop losses

Hyderabad: The Congress government’s much-publicised campaign for a Rs 30,000-crore drought relief package yielded little beyond a formal representation. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and more than half his Cabinet spent three days in Delhi, announcing plans to seek the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but failed to secure a meeting with either of them or the Union Ministers concerned.

While the Chief Minister and his Ministers participated in Congress protests in the national capital, the State’s demand for drought relief remained confined to official channels. No concrete assurance on the special package emerged, exposing the gap between the government’s political projection and its actual achievement.

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The government’s handling of the drought has also come under scrutiny in comparison with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Recording a higher rainfall deficit, Andhra Pradesh moved ahead of Telangana in declaring drought-affected areas and securing a Central assessment. It declared 388 mandals drought-hit on October 1, well before the October 31 deadline. A Central team has been deputed to assess the situation, with its visit scheduled for this week.

Telangana declared 365 mandals drought-affected only on October 27. No Central assessment team has been deputed so far. Official sources indicated that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh faced more severe rainfall deficits than Telangana’s 17 per cent shortfall, raising questions over the government’s case for exceptional assistance.

The Assembly had adopted a resolution on September 18 seeking Rs 20,000 crore in special assistance, a Central assessment team and relief under the NDRF and SDRF. The demand was later revised to Rs 30,000 crore. The State also sought an increase in its borrowing limit under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management framework from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GSDP for 2026-27.

Despite submitting its drought report to the Centre on October 28, the government is yet to secure a concrete response. An all-party meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on the same day ended with assurances that opposition suggestions would be considered and an action plan prepared. The proposed all-party delegation to Delhi, too, remains only an announcement.

With 365 mandals declared drought-affected and farmers facing crop losses, the government’s response remained heavy on political messaging but short on relief. Its high-profile Delhi campaign is yet to translate into either a concrete Central commitment or an effective intervention for farmers.