Vijayawada: CM Asks Districts to Brace for El Niño, Avert Water and Price Crises

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed district collectors to accord the highest priority to tackling the impact of El Niño, warning that lower crop yields could trigger shortages, inflation and hardships for both farmers and consumers.

Naidu said he would review the situation every week and personally undertake field visits.

Addressing the collectors’ conference, he called for coordinated action by ministers, officials and public representatives, with regular field visits and awareness programmes for farmers.

He said planning was essential to prevent drinking water and fodder shortages; and directed officials to prepare comprehensive plans for uninterrupted water supply in urban and rural areas until next summer.

The chief minister said crops with strong future demand should be identified and farmers guided accordingly. Seeds should be supplied at subsidised rates wherever necessary and the government should examine Minimum Support Prices for high-demand crops.

He called for more intensive cultivation of onions, pulses and millets, along with multi-cropping, to reduce dependence on supplies from other states.

Collectors, he said, must prepare lists of insured crops and ensure farmers were aware of crop insurance provisions. Immediate steps should be taken to secure compensation for crop losses caused by El Niño.

Rythu Bazars should be fully activated, while farmers should be advised on crops being procured by the Centre. Naidu stressed natural farming, PMDS, rain-fed crops, fodder cultivation and mulching to preserve greenery.

Drone-based seed broadcasting should be promoted extensively. Tanks should be filled wherever possible, while water should be transported from nearby sources to shortage-hit areas.

Reviewing irrigation, the CM said Pattiseema water could protect lakhs of acres in the Krishna Delta even under severe El Niño conditions.

Currently, 8,100 cusecs was being released from Pattiseema, with 6,700 cusecs reaching Prakasam Barrage. So far this season, 39.5tmc of Godavari water was diverted to the Krishna Delta.

The CM directed officials to complete 36 priority irrigation projects within three years, setting targets at least a month ahead of deadlines.

Contractors and officials completing works on time would be given incentives. He praised the progress of the Veligonda project, Polavaram Left Canal and Handri-Neeva Canal.

Naidu said the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river linkage and Jal Jeevan Mission could help provide piped water to every household.

Jaladhara works, including trench excavation and construction of water structures, should continue without interruption.

Groundwater recharge should be strengthened by interlinking internal basins, while a blueprint should be prepared for filling tanks.

He also asked departments to ensure adequate cattle sheds and feed, stressing coordination among agriculture, animal husbandry, water resources and rural development departments.

Announcing a major push for horticulture, Naidu said the foundation stone for the Global Horticulture Hub would be laid this month.

He also directed the ministerial committee on price control to function continuously to prevent essential commodity prices from rising.