3 weeks ago
Telangana Officials Unite to Protect Farmers Amid El Niño Threat
El Niño is a weather pattern that can make rain go away.
Farmers in Nizamabad, a district in India, need rain to grow their food, including rice called paddy.
If less rain falls, their crops could dry up and die.
So leaders and water officials held a special meeting to help.
They checked how much water is stored in big lakes called reservoirs.
They found one big lake, Sriramsagar, is only half full.
They decided to use water very carefully and keep enough for drinking water.
They also told farmers to grow crops that need less water, like maize and vegetables.
The officers will meet again at the end of August to decide how much water to share with farms.
This way, farmers can stay safe even if El Niño brings less rain.
The District Irrigation Advisory Board (DIAB) resolved to protect Nizamabad farmers from water shortages and crop losses amid El Niño-driven below-normal rainfall concerns.
Paddy has been cultivated on 3.96 lakh acres, with 45,000 acres yet to be sown; farmers were urged to switch to sorghum, maize, vegetables, pulses and oil palm.
Officials reviewed storage at the Nizamsagar, Sriramsagar, Singur, Kaulas Nala, Pocharam and Ramadugu reservoirs; Sriramsagar holds 40 tmc of its 80 tmc capacity.
The state-level Shivam Committee will decide the quantum of irrigation water release at a meeting in the last week of August.
Reports differ on who chaired the meeting — in-charge collector Bhavesh Mishra (Article 1) or agricultural advisor Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Article 2).
- Who
- The District Irrigation Advisory Board (DIAB), including in-charge collector Bhavesh Mishra, government agricultural advisor and Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Nizamabad Rural MLA Dr R. Bhoopathi Reddy, Nizamabad Urban MLA Dhanpal Suryanarayana Gupta, Armoor MLA Paidi Rakesh Reddy and Kamareddy collector Ashish Sangwan; reports differ on whether Mishra or Srinivas Reddy chaired the meeting.
- What
- A Kharif-season review meeting to protect farmers from possible water shortages and crop losses, promote water conservation and encourage crop diversification amid El Niño-linked below-normal rainfall.
- Where
- Integrated District Offices Complex (IDOC) in Nizamabad, Telangana; Kamareddy collector Ashish Sangwan joined virtually.
- When
- On Saturday, during the Kharif season instead of the traditional Rabi season.
- Why
- Because rainfall during August and September is expected to remain below normal due to the El Niño threat, endangering crops and water supplies.
Key facts
- Event
- District Irrigation Advisory Board (DIAB) meeting
- Location
- Integrated District Offices Complex, Nizamabad, Telangana
- Paddy cultivated area
- 3.96 lakh acres
- Area yet to be sown
- 45,000 acres
- Sriramsagar reservoir storage
- 40 tmc of 80 tmc full capacity
- Nizamsagar reservoir storage
- 10.78 TMC (supports 1.15 lakh acres ayacut)
- Singur reservoir drinking water
- 4.140 tmc, expected to last 60-90 days
- Next decision
- Shivam Committee meeting in last week of August on irrigation release
Sources
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