BJP Leader Urges ‘Water Emergency’ at Srisailam Dam Amid Drought Fears

Expressing concern over a possible severe drought this year, BJP Namami Gange state convener Midathala Ramesh has urged the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments to declare a ‘water emergency’ at the Srisailam dam and conserve all incoming water exclusively for drinking purposes.

Submitting a representation to Telugu Ganga Project officials at the Nellore collectorate on Monday, Ramesh pointed out that although the new water year had begun 30 days ago, the Srisailam reservoir had not yet received significant inflows. With water releases from the Jurala project expected to commence shortly and another month remaining in the water year, he appealed to the authorities to store every possible drop in the reservoir instead of releasing it for other purposes.

Warning of a severe drought, which he attributed to the anticipated El Niño effect, Ramesh said the situation could be worse than the devastating 1997 drought, when groundwater levels plummeted, agricultural lands dried up, drinking water became scarce in rural areas, and livestock perished due to water shortages.

He urged governments to resist political pressure and prioritise drinking water needs for Rayalaseema, Telangana and Chennai, stressing that protecting water resources should be the foremost priority in the interest of the public.

Several BJP leaders and activists, including A.V. Subbaiah and D. Penchalaiah, participated in the programme.