Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Uttam Calls for Judicious Water Use Amid El Niño
N Uttam Kumar Reddy is Telangana's Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister.
He said people need to use stored water carefully.
Drinking water must be protected first.
Farmers also need water for crops during the Kharif season.
The minister said reservoirs may not receive as much rain as expected.
This is partly because El Niño can make rainfall uncertain.
He said officials should check how much usable water is actually available.
If there is enough water after meeting drinking needs, it should be sent to standing crops.
Water releases should be based on facts rather than hopeful guesses about future rain.
Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy urged careful water management during the remaining monsoon period.
He called for balancing drinking-water security with irrigation needs for farmers.
The minister cited prevailing El Niño conditions and uncertainty over future rainfall.
He said water releases should rely on usable storage, dependable inflows and realistic rainfall assessments.
He said irrigation water should reach standing crops when reservoirs have supplies beyond drinking-water requirements.
- Who
- Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy.
- What
- He called for judicious water use that balances drinking-water needs with irrigation requirements.
- When
- Tuesday, during the remaining monsoon period and Kharif season.
- Where
- At Jal Soudha in Hyderabad.
- Why
- Because prevailing El Niño conditions have created uncertainty about rainfall and future water availability.
- Minister
- N Uttam Kumar Reddy
- Location
- Jal Soudha, Hyderabad
- Main concern
- Balancing drinking-water security with farmers' irrigation needs
- Weather factor
- Prevailing El Niño conditions
- Planning period
- Remaining monsoon period and Kharif season
- Basis for releases
- Actual usable storage, dependable inflows and realistic rainfall assessments