Naidu Orders Advance Plans to Tackle Water Shortage

Vijayawada:Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to make the Jaladhara-Jalaharathi programme a year-round exercise and take advance measures to prevent drinking water shortages amid fears of a severe El Niño impact.

Reviewing the programme through a video conference from his camp office, Naidu said water conservation, drinking water supply and protection of standing crops should be given top priority.

Officials said 82,865 works had been identified under Jaladhara-Jalaharathi, of which 79,826 had been completed at a sanctioned cost of ₹3,409.35 crore. The works include desilting and restoration of tanks and feeder channels, farm ponds and trenches.

Officials warned that the El Nino impact could be more severe than anticipated, with rainfall expected to be 39 per cent below normal. Against the normal June-December rainfall of 867 mm, only around 525 mm is expected, while August could see a 56 per cent deficit.

Reservoir storage has also declined sharply. Water availability across various basins stands at 563.05 tmc, compared with 825.67 tmc during the corresponding period last year. Groundwater levels are also expected to decline further from August.

Naidu asked officials to conserve water in the Velugodu, Gorakallu, Avuku, Jeedipalli and Cherlopalli reservoirs for drinking purposes and prepare allocations through Nagarjuna Sagar canals to meet drinking water needs in various districts.

“Every drop available must be effectively utilised,” he said, directing officials to maximise reservoir storage and judiciously use available surface and groundwater resources. Areas without assured drinking water supply should be identified and alternative arrangements, including advance deployment of tankers, made, he said.

The Chief Minister also directed officials to protect standing crops by prioritising available water, promote less water-intensive crops and ensure water for industries despite the scarcity. He called for a public awareness campaign on El Nino and water conservation, with collectors asked to continuously monitor ground-level conditions.

Naidu also ordered advance measures to prevent fodder shortages and ensure adequate water and feed for livestock. Districts should prepare action plans to establish Gokulams wherever necessary, he said.

He asked officials to identify tanks and canals that had remained dry for long periods and restore their water supply. The feasibility of micro-basin connectivity to divert surplus water from water-abundant areas to deficit regions should also be examined, he said.

Water resourses minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, senior officials of the irrigation, agriculture and panchayat raj departments and district collectors attended the conference.