Telangana has launched a four-month employment scheme to support daily wage workers amid worsening drought conditions linked to El Niño weather patterns. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy announced the initiative on Friday, warning that the drought, expected to last from October to July, would worsen water shortages, particularly for drinking supplies.
Water storage in projects had fallen to less than 20 per cent of their total capacity, with some projects reaching dead storage levels. The available water was not more than 200 TMC, he said.
Work scheme targets rural laborers
The new scheme, set to begin after the Sankranti festival, will run until May and provide daily wages to workers. The state government will use both its own funds and central government support to fund the program. Reddy emphasized that officials must monitor water supplies continuously, with a toll-free grievance line and a mobile app for public representatives to track progress in villages.
Beyond employment, the initiative includes restoring access to canals, ponds, and small water bodies to improve irrigation. The government will also organize cultural events to educate farmers and set up help desks at Gandhi Bhavan under MP Chamala Kiran. Special centers in villages will provide fodder and drinking water for livestock, while additional workdays will be created under the existing employment guarantee scheme.
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Reddy stressed that transparency was critical, directing leaders to use Rythu Vedikas, farmers’ forums, to inform communities about the drought. A Cabinet sub-committee, led by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, will oversee the response, with K Ramakrishna Rao appointed as a special officer to combat misinformation.
The government claims it managed the Kharif crop season without irrigation crises and will protect and procure crops. It also defended a recent bonus for seven varieties of fine paddy, citing prices between ₹3,400 and ₹4,000 due to advances from traders in other states.
Electricity demand surges as heat worsens
Rising temperatures and water scarcity have pushed electricity demand to 20,000 megawatts, up from 13,000 MW in the same period last year. While the state has secured 20,000 MW of supply, Reddy urged residents to limit usage to essential needs, citing market shortages. He highlighted solar power as a solution, noting that villagers in Kongareddypalli have benefited from selling excess solar-generated electricity.