Archive · 21 Jul 2026
El Nino Drives Record Power Demand in Telangana
In Telangana, India, the El Nino weather pattern is causing a big problem.
There isn't enough water for farming, so farmers are using a lot more electricity to run their water pumps.
This is making the demand for power very high, up to 7,000 MW per day.
The government is worried about the cost of providing free electricity to farmers, which is expected to be around Rs 14,500 crore next year.
Farmers, on the other hand, need this power to keep their crops alive.
The government is asking farmers to save water, but farmers might not be able to do that right now because they need to focus on their crops.
The government is also making sure that farmers get good electricity and is advising them on how to save water.
El Nino is causing water scarcity in Telangana, leading to increased power demand for agricultural pump sets.
Power demand is expected to reach 6,500 MW to 7,000 MW per day during the peak farming season.
The government is concerned about the rising cost of power subsidies, which could reach Rs 14,500 crore in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Farmers are advised to adopt water-saving practices and groundwater conservation measures.
The government is implementing a special action plan to ensure continuous, high-quality electricity supply to the agricultural sector.
- Who
- Farmers in Telangana
- What
- Increased power demand due to El Nino
- When
- August to November 2023
- Where
- Telangana, India
- Why
- Water scarcity due to El Nino leading to increased use of agricultural pump sets
Government Perspective
Farmers' Perspective
Power Subsidy Costs
Government Perspective
The government is concerned about the increasing financial burden of providing free power subsidies to the agriculture sector, which is expected to rise to Rs 14,500 crore in the 2026-2027 financial year.
Farmers' Perspective
Farmers rely on these subsidies to operate their pump sets, especially during water scarcity caused by El Nino, to sustain their crops.
Water Conservation
Government Perspective
The government advises farmers to adopt water-saving practices and groundwater conservation measures to mitigate the impact of El Nino.
Farmers' Perspective
Farmers may prioritize immediate agricultural needs over long-term water conservation due to the urgent requirement to sustain their crops.
- Power Demand
- 6,500 MW to 7,000 MW per day
- Previous Kharif Power Demand
- 3,500 MW per day on average
- Number of Pump Sets
- 30 lakh
- Government Subsidy
- Rs 14,500 crore (2026-2027 financial year)
- Peak Farming Season
- August to November