Now Reading: Telangana revives district panels to advise farmers on crops
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Telangana revives district panels to advise farmers on crops
Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday ordered the immediate revival of District Irrigation Advisory Boards. The panels, comprising collectors, irrigation and agriculture officials, and elected representatives, will meet before…
The Story in Brief
Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday ordered the immediate revival of District Irrigation Advisory Boards. The panels, comprising collectors, irrigation and agriculture officials, and elected representatives, will meet before and during each crop season to assess reservoir storage and canal supplies, then advise farmers on safe crops.
Citing El Nino conditions expected to hit rainfall, Reddy warned against water-intensive crops like paddy in command areas with low inflows. Water levels at Nagarjuna Sagar and Sri Ram Sagar Project remain below desired levels. Collectors were told to publicise storage data and hold board meetings from Saturday. Rural water supply officials must collaborate to reserve drinking water for next summer.
The Indian Opinion
The revival looks sensible given El Nino and low reservoir levels. Some may call it cautious timing or fear farmers will ignore the advice and gamble on rains. But the minister explicitly warned that the second paddy wetting in August is uncertain, that is concrete, not scaremongering. The real test: will district boards actually meet regularly and persuade farmers to shift to less water-intensive crops in vulnerable areas? Or will political pressure push releases anyway?
Sources (3): thehindu.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, newindianexpress.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
