# Telangana blames BRS, El Nino for water crisis 2026-09-19T03:53:05+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy told the Assembly on Friday that the state government would prioritise drinking water and protect standing crops during the ongoing El Nino-induced stress. He said usable storage in the Krishna and Godavari basins had dropped to 241 tmc ft from 585 tmc ft last year, and 40% of the state's 44,034 tanks were less than one-quarter full. Reddy blamed the previous BRS government for a decade of irrigation mismanagement, unfinished projects and faulty construction, saying El Nino compounded those failures. The government has alerted farmers about deficient rainfall and alternative crops, and power purchases on the energy exchange rose 61.7%, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy separately sought central assistance from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The minister said drinking water would get priority over irrigation, with reservoir levels reviewed every 10 days. Rehabilitation designs for the Kaleshwaram barrages are expected by mid-November. The state reiterated its demand for an equal 50:50 sharing of Krishna waters. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Congress ministers framed the crisis as the product of a decade of BRS irrigation failures worsened by El Nino, a narrative that deflects accountability for current management. The BRS-era Kaleshwaram barrages' structural failures were cited as proof, but the government has not yet begun repairs, with designs due only in mid-November. Reservoir storage halved year-on-year, yet the government prioritised drinking water over standing crops. The tribunal hears Krishna water sharing on a pending date. ## Coverage - thehindu.com (pro government) Reports government's proactive measures and data without critique - thehindu.com (pro government) Reports government's proactive measures and data without critique - hindustantimes.com (neutral report) Straight report on CM's meeting with Union minister - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) Foregrounds minister's blame of BRS and poor reservoir data Tags: A Revanth Reddy, El Nino, Kaleshwaram, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Telangana Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-blames-previous-regime-for-el-nino-water-crisis/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-blames-previous-regime-for-el-nino-water-crisis/#story-in-brief