Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Telangana Cabinet Approves Two DAs Amid Drought Concerns
Telangana’s Cabinet approved two delayed payments for government workers and pensioners.
The payments had been waiting since 2024 and will be made gradually.
This will cost the state about Rs 2,500 crore each year.
The Cabinet is also worried because the state received less rain than usual.
Many areas may face drought-like conditions, and some places need more drinking water.
Electricity use has also risen sharply, so the state plans to buy more power and build renewable-energy projects.
Ministers will ask the central government for help and discuss ways to protect farmers and crops.
The Cabinet also made decisions about buying rice, improving irrigation projects and building a large fruit market.
The Cabinet approved two pending dearness allowances for Telangana government employees and corresponding relief for pensioners.
DA and dearness relief arrears accumulated since 2024 will be paid in instalments, adding about Rs 2,500 crore annually to state expenses.
The Cabinet cited 17% deficit rainfall, severe shortages in about 235 mandals, rising power demand and drinking-water concerns.
It appealed to the Centre to declare drought-hit mandals and provide financial assistance, while planning consultations on El Nino mitigation.
The Cabinet also approved renewable-energy projects, paddy procurement preparations, irrigation project retendering and a Rs 650 crore fruit market phase.
- Who
- The Telangana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, and state government employees and pensioners.
- What
- The Cabinet approved two pending dearness allowances and several measures addressing drought, power demand, agriculture, irrigation and administration.
- When
- The decisions were made on Thursday; the monsoon season ended on Wednesday, and the DAs had been pending since 2024.
- Where
- Telangana, including drought-affected mandals, Koheda in Ranga Reddy district and Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi.
- Why
- The DAs were approved following assurances to employee associations, while other measures respond to deficit rainfall, El Nino conditions, rising power demand and pending state projects.
- DA decision
- Two dearness allowances were approved for state employees, with corresponding dearness relief for pensioners.
- Estimated annual cost
- About Rs 2,500 crore.
- Rainfall situation
- Telangana recorded around 17% deficit rainfall during the monsoon season.
- Affected mandals
- About 235 mandals were described as facing severe rainfall deficiency and drought-like conditions.
- Peak power demand
- Demand reached 19,892 MW, compared with normal daily consumption of about 15,000 MW.
- Renewable-energy plan
- The Cabinet approved steps to add about 7,800 MW: 3,000 MW solar, 4,000 MW battery storage and 800 MW wind.
- Fruit market funding
- Rs 650 crore was sanctioned for phase one of an integrated fruit market at Koheda.