Revanth announces ‘Praja Balam’ to see Telangana through an El Niño drought

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced a programme called ‘Praja Balam’ (people’s strength) to help Telangana cope with the drought expected from El Niño conditions, with job schemes to follow after Sankranti in January.

Full details of the programme were not immediately available. It builds on a string of measures the government has announced since October, when Mr. Reddy warned that drought could persist for eight to ten months. He has asked farmers to grow dry crops and vegetables, and to skip one paddy crop this season, and has told officials that only about 20% of the usable water in reservoirs is being kept for drinking. The State Cabinet has decided to seek help from the Centre and asked every department to prepare contingency plans for drinking water, irrigation, farming and power.

The background

A weak monsoon, linked to El Niño warming in the Pacific, has left reservoirs low across southern and western India. An all-party meeting called by the government on the drought last month ended without a concrete plan, and opposition parties have pressed for compensation for farmers who give up a crop.

What’s next

The government is expected to set out how Praja Balam will work, and what support farmers and rural workers will receive, in the coming weeks.