Hyderabad: With concerns growing over water availability due to El Nino and declining reservoir levels, the state govt has stepped up contingency measures, earmarking ₹120 crore for emergency drinking water arrangements in four districts dependent on the Singur project and directing officials to ensure uninterrupted supply across the state.Panchayat raj and rural development minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka on Saturday announced that ₹120 crore has been allocated for alternative drinking water arrangements in Sangareddy, Medak, Kamareddy and Nizamabad districts linked to the Singur project. Another ₹1 crore each has been sanctioned for the remaining districts to meet immediate requirements.The minister issued directions to officials to expedite alternative arrangements and ensure that people do not face any disruption in drinking water supply. She held a teleconference with engineers from Mission Bhagiratha and other departments concerned to review the drinking water situation across Telangana and discuss preparedness measures in view of the El Nino conditions.During the meeting, officials were instructed to make optimum use of available local water resources in areas facing shortages, hire borewells wherever necessary, and arrange tanker supply when required. The minister stressed the need to ensure that hand pumps, single-phase and three-phase water supply schemes, and local wells remain functional and accessible to the public.She directed officials to identify villages facing disruptions in Mission Bhagiratha water supply and areas witnessing groundwater depletion, and to put alternative arrangements in place without delay.Seethakka also emphasised the need for village-level awareness campaigns on water conservation and the possible impact of El Nino. Officials were asked to continuously monitor reservoir storage levels and strictly follow govt guidelines while planning and managing drinking water requirements.Referring to the recent rainfall in Hyderabad, Medchal, Khammam and Yadadri districts, the minister directed officials to take steps to improve groundwater recharge through rainwater harvesting measures. She instructed them to ensure that existing recharge pits and magic pits near drinking water sources are made functional and that ongoing construction works on such structures are completed within two days.
