The Telangana government has decided to formally request the Centre to dispatch special assessment teams and release financial assistance for contingency measures, as the state grapples with a 40 per cent rainfall deficit attributed to the ongoing El Niño effect. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held on Friday, 17 July, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad.

What the Cabinet Decided

Minister for Revenue, Information and Public Relations Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy told reporters that the Cabinet resolved to write to the Central government detailing the rainfall shortfall and its cascading impact on the state. The letter will cover the effect on crop cultivation and allied agricultural sectors, challenges to drinking water and irrigation supplies, and the hardships faced by agricultural labourers.

The Cabinet directed District Collectors to remain on high alert to prevent drinking water shortages and to address public grievances promptly. It also resolved to ensure uninterrupted power supply with no load shedding, directing officials to make arrangements for both power generation and procurement.

Agriculture and Water Management Measures

The Cabinet appealed to farmers to avoid water-intensive crops and shift to low-water-intensity alternatives. Awareness seminars and public meetings are to be conducted across the state to inform citizens about the rainfall deficit, available water resources, and precautions for farmers and livestock owners.

Available water from all projects is to be prioritised for drinking water needs. A special report on El Niño's impact on the agricultural sector is to be prepared by agricultural experts and scientists under the leadership of State Planning Board Vice-Chairman Chinna Reddy, covering suitable crops, farmer precautions, and livestock care.

District-Level Emergency Reviews

The Cabinet resolved to hold emergency review meetings across all districts to assess ground-level conditions and determine immediate actions. Special district-wise review meetings are scheduled for Monday, 20 July, covering each combined district and to be led by respective district ministers alongside local public representatives and officials. A senior IAS officer is to be assigned alongside each in-charge minister to coordinate the response.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy directed all departments to immediately prepare alternative action plans covering drinking water, irrigation, agriculture, and power supply, in view of the Meteorological Department's warnings that conditions could deteriorate further in the coming days.

SIT Formed to Probe Dharani Portal Irregularities

In a separate decision, the Cabinet approved the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities and malpractices in land records and transactions conducted through the Dharani portal during the previous BRS government's tenure. The Dharani portal became operational on 29 October 2020.

The government has reportedly already identified over 10,000 suspicious transactions through a forensic audit, involving land registrations, record alterations, and transfers of agricultural, assigned, and government lands. The SIT will also examine the role of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), which managed the portal, along with issues related to the tender process, contract allocation, portal design, system architecture, and data security.

With district reviews set for Monday and the Centre yet to respond, the coming week will be critical in determining how swiftly relief and contingency resources reach Telangana's drought-stressed districts.