Telangana drought report sent to Centre; all-party meet flags El Nino threat
Synopsis
Telangana has formally submitted a drought report to the Centre and convened a rare all-party meeting — with the Congress, BRS, BJP, AIMIM, and Left parties all present — to forge a unified response to El Nino-driven rainfall deficits. With no surplus water expected from neighbouring states either, the state is racing to manage both drinking water supply and farm distress simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Telangana has submitted a drought situation report to the Centre and may send an all-party delegation to New Delhi for additional assistance.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka chaired an all-party meeting in Hyderabad on 28 October 2026 to address El Nino and rainfall deficit impacts.
Representatives from Congress , BRS , BJP , AIMIM , CPI , and CPM attended and submitted suggestions on farmer support, drinking water, and irrigation.
Rainfall deficits in neighbouring states rule out reservoir inflows from adjacent regions, intensifying water management pressure.
The government plans advance measures to secure drinking water for rural and urban areas and fodder for livestock.
All party suggestions have been recorded; the government will incorporate feasible recommendations into a coordinated action plan.
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka announced on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, that the state government had already submitted a detailed report on the drought situation to the Centre, and that an all-party delegation would be taken to New Delhi to meet Union Ministers if additional assistance was required. The announcement came at an all-party meeting convened in Hyderabad to deliberate on measures to counter the fallout of El Nino and a widening rainfall deficit across the state.
Why the Meeting Was Called
The Telangana government convened the all-party gathering to build consensus on a coordinated response to drought-like conditions attributed to the ongoing El Nino weather phenomenon. Bhatti Vikramarka said the government had already held legislative debates, organised seminars, consulted scientists and domain experts, and constituted a dedicated committee to study the crisis — underscoring that the response is not ad hoc but part of a structured effort spanning several months.
He pointed out that the rainfall deficit is not confined to Telangana alone, with neighbouring states and other parts of the country facing similar shortfalls. This, he noted, eliminates the possibility of reservoirs receiving surplus flows from adjacent regions, making efficient water-resource management a pressing priority.
Cross-Party Participation and Suggestions
The meeting drew representatives from across the political spectrum. From the ruling Congress, Anjan Kumar Yadav and Farmers' Commission Chairman Kodanda Reddy attended. The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was represented by Vinod Kumar, L. Ramana, and Singireddy Niranjan Reddy. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sent Legislature Party Leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy and MLC Komurayya. AIMIM president and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi attended alongside Assembly Floor Leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Left parties were represented by CPI National Secretary Palla Venkata Reddy, CPI State Secretary Koonamneni Sambasiva Rao, and CPM State Secretary John Wesley.
Participating leaders offered suggestions on supporting farmers, addressing drinking water shortages, and resolving irrigation bottlenecks. Bhatti Vikramarka said all suggestions had been recorded and the government would incorporate feasible recommendations into its action plan.
Government's Action Plan
Cabinet Sub-Committee members and state ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Danasari Seethakka, and Vakiti Srihari attended the meeting, along with Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju and nodal officer Ramakrishna Rao.
The Deputy Chief Minister said department-wise measures were being coordinated to anticipate drought conditions and minimise their impact. Advance arrangements would be made to prevent drinking water shortages in both rural and urban areas, and to ensure availability of fodder for livestock. He stressed that decisions would be guided by scientific advice and the actual situation as it evolves.
Appeal for Political Unity
Bhatti Vikramarka appealed to all parties to set aside political criticism and cooperate with the government in the larger public interest, calling it a potential crisis that demanded collective action. He said the meeting had been convened in the true spirit of democracy and expressed confidence that a coordinated action plan, built on multi-party input, would help Telangana effectively navigate the challenges posed by El Nino.
With the Centre already briefed and an inter-party consensus-building process under way, the next critical step will be the Union government's response to the state's formal relief request.
Point of View
Especially given that rainfall deficits are simultaneously hitting multiple states, which means competition for federal relief funds. Telangana's move to front-load scientific consultations and a committee study is prudent, but the absence of a publicly disclosed timeline or quantified relief ask weakens the state's negotiating position with New Delhi.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Telangana reported to the Centre about its drought situation?
Telangana has submitted a formal report to the Centre detailing drought-like conditions arising from the El Nino weather phenomenon and a significant rainfall deficit. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the state may also send an all-party delegation to New Delhi to meet Union Ministers for additional relief and assistance.
What is El Nino and why is it affecting Telangana?
El Nino is a periodic warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that typically suppresses monsoon rainfall over South Asia. Telangana is experiencing a rainfall deficit attributed to its influence, with reservoir levels falling and neighbouring states facing similar shortfalls, cutting off any possibility of surplus inflows from adjacent regions.
Who attended the all-party meeting on the drought in Hyderabad?
The meeting included cabinet ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Danasari Seethakka, and Vakiti Srihari, as well as representatives from BRS, BJP, AIMIM, CPI, and CPM. Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju and nodal officer Ramakrishna Rao were also present.
What measures is the Telangana government taking to address the drought?
The government is coordinating department-wise action plans, preparing advance arrangements for drinking water supply in rural and urban areas, ensuring fodder for livestock, and studying reservoir storage levels for efficient water management. It has also consulted scientists and experts and constituted a dedicated committee to assess the situation.
Will there be an all-party delegation to Delhi for drought relief?
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said the government would take an all-party delegation to New Delhi to meet Union Ministers if the assistance already sought through the submitted drought report proves insufficient. No firm date has been announced yet.
