Hans News Service Amaravati

ChiefMinister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to treat the Jaladhara-Jalaharati programme as a continuous water-conservation initiative, warning that the impact of El Nino could be more severe than initially anticipated and pose challenges to drinking water supply, agriculture and livestock. Reviewing the programme through a video conference from his camp office, the Chief Minister asked officials to prepare in advance for a possible 39 per cent rainfall deficit between June and December. Officials said normal rainfall during the period is around 867 mm, while the current projection is only 525 mm, with August alone potentially recording a 56 per cent deficit. The water position is already under pressure. Officials said the state’s reservoirs currently hold 563.05 tmc ft, against 825.67 tmc ft during the same period last year, while groundwater levels are expected to decline further from August.

Naidu directed officials to give priority to drinking water storage in Veligodu, Gorakallu, Auk, Jeedipalli and Cherlopalli reservoirs and prepare district-wise water allocations through the Nagarjuna Sagar canal system. “Water conservation must be a continuous process,” the Chief Minister said, directing officials to make maximum use of available water, including floodwaters entering the State from upstream areas. He asked them to identify villages and habitations facing drinking water shortages and keep water tankers ready in advance. The Jaladhara-Jalaharati programme has so far covered 82,865 works, of which 79,826 have been completed, with a sanctioned value of Rs 3,409.35 crore. The works include desilting tanks and feeder channels and construction of farm ponds and trenches. The Chief Minister also asked officials to protect standing crops amid the anticipated rainfall shortage by prioritising available water for agriculture and promoting less water-intensive crops in the future. At the same time, he directed them to ensure adequate water for industries even under constrained availability. Naidu called for a public awareness campaign on prudent water use, with collectors tasked with closely monitoring the situation at the field level. He also directed officials to act early against a possible fodder shortage district administrations were asked to ensure adequate fodder and water for livestock and establish Gokulams (cattle shelters) wherever necessary, backed by special district-level action plans.

The CM further asked officials to identify tanks and canals that had remained dry for prolonged periods and explore micro-basin linkages to transfer water from surplus areas to water-deficit regions.”