Hyderabad, October 26(Rights Media): TPCC Official Spokesperson Syed Nizamuddin on Monday accused the BRS of trying to politicise the emerging El Niño-related water crisis, saying the party was attempting to exploit a natural climatic challenge for political gains instead of supporting measures to protect farmers, workers and drinking water supplies.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan, Nizamuddin said Telangana was facing a genuine problem caused by deficient rainfall, low reservoir levels and rising pressure on groundwater. These conditions, he said, were the result of a climatic phenomenon and could not be blamed on any government. Yet, the BRS had chosen to create fear and confusion instead of acting responsibly at a time when the State needed cooperation and preparedness.
Telangana received 615.5 mm rainfall during the southwest monsoon between June and September against a normal of 740.6 mm, leaving a deficit of about 17%. Several districts recorded even higher deficiencies, while October also remained exceptionally dry in many areas. The TPCC spokesperson said this had increased pressure on reservoirs, tanks and groundwater sources and made advance planning essential.
“At a time when the State needs cooperation, the BRS is trying to create a political controversy. It has every right to question implementation, but it should not mislead people about the cause of the crisis,” Nizamuddin said.
He said the Congress Government headed by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had treated the situation as a wider challenge rather than merely an irrigation issue. The Chief Minister had been personally reviewing drinking water availability, agricultural needs, power demand, employment concerns and urban water management to ensure that different departments worked in coordination.
A Cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had been constituted to continuously review the situation. A nodal officer had also been appointed to improve coordination and ensure that accurate information reached the public. The TPCC spokesperson said such a mechanism was necessary when rumours and political misinformation could aggravate public anxiety.
Among the key measures, he said, was the proposed four-month special employment programme from after Sankranti until the end of May. Agricultural activity could slow down in water-stressed areas during this period, reducing income for rural labourers and economically vulnerable families. The proposed programme would combine available Central scheme funds with additional State support to provide a livelihood cushion during the lean months.
Public representatives had also been asked to remain in close contact with villages for four months and respond quickly to local problems. Nizamuddin said this would help the administration identify difficulties at the grassroots level and ensure that assistance reached affected families without unnecessary delay.
The Congress government had also adopted a cautious approach towards agriculture, he said. Farmers had been advised to take up rainfed crops and vegetables wherever possible and avoid water-intensive cultivation in areas where irrigation could not be assured.
The advisory against Rabi paddy in vulnerable areas was intended to protect farmers from larger losses later in the season. “It is better to guide farmers in advance than allow them to invest heavily and face crop failure later. This is responsible planning, not panic,” he said.
The TPCC spokesperson said drinking water had rightly been accorded the highest priority. Several major reservoirs were carrying substantially lower storage compared with the corresponding period last year, while many minor irrigation sources were also under stress. At the same time, power demand had risen as farmers increasingly depended on borewells and pump sets.
These conditions made conservation of both water and electricity essential, he said. The Chief Minister’s call to make people stakeholders was therefore significant. “The government alone cannot handle a climate-related crisis. Public cooperation is equally important,” he added.
Nizamuddin also referred to the Green Water tanker initiative of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, scheduled to be launched from November 1. Under the initiative, treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants would be supplied through GPS-tracked tankers for construction, industries, parks, greenery, road cleaning, dust control and other non-drinking purposes.
The system would include online registration, booking, payments and delivery confirmation, while filling stations would have e-PoS facilities. The TPCC spokesperson said the initiative was a practical way to reduce the use of potable water for non-essential purposes.
“There is no reason to use drinking water or extract fresh groundwater for activities where treated water can be safely used. This will reduce pressure on Hyderabad’s drinking water sources and groundwater,” he said.
He said Telangana had started preparing for the developing conditions months earlier through expert consultations, contingency planning and repeated reviews of water, agriculture and power requirements. This, he said, showed that the government had acted early rather than waiting for the situation to worsen.
At the same time, Nizamuddin cautioned against exaggerated claims about El Niño. He said it was a recurring climatic phenomenon whose impact varied from one cycle to another. “The correct response is scientific planning, timely preparation and clear communication. The government is doing that. The BRS should also act responsibly instead of turning every natural challenge into a political attack,” he said.
