Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to prepare a robust action plan to tackle the emerging crisis posed by El Nio conditions in the state, stressing the need for immediate precautionary measures to address potential challenges related to drinking water, irrigation, agriculture and electricity supply.
On Saturday, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with senior officials at his Jubilee Hills residence to discuss the El Nio weather conditions and the measures needed to mitigate the risk of a severe crisis in the coming months.
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Warning that failure to anticipate the potential impact of El Nio could lead to serious problems in the future, Revanth Reddy stressed that all necessary precautionary measures must be taken to address the challenges ahead.
The meeting also discussed creating awareness about El Nio and its potential impact among people, from the village level to the state level. A campaign using television channels, cinema halls and cultural troupes will be launched soon to educate the public about the challenges posed by the weather phenomenon.
‘NEXT EIGHT MONTHS ARE CRUCIAL’
The Chief Minister cautioned that the next eight months would be crucial in dealing with the potential El Nio crisis. He said the public should also be involved as partners in implementing the action plan.
Revanth Reddy warned that the power crisis could intensify in the coming days. While the government was prepared to incur the necessary expenditure to procure electricity for the state, he pointed out that power availability in the market was limited.
Officials were directed to ensure the prudent use of available electricity and take measures to temporarily postpone electricity-intensive activities wherever possible.
In view of the potential water crisis, the Chief Minister ordered officials to assess standing crops and ensure there was no water shortage until the harvest was completed. He stressed the need for special measures to prevent the situation from worsening and directed officials to ensure that not a single drop of water was wasted.
SPECIAL MEETING WITH MINISTERS SOON
Revanth Reddy announced that a special meeting with ministers would be held soon to discuss the impact of El Nio and the prevailing rainfall deficit in Telangana.
Key decisions will be taken after deliberations on the situation in areas that have received inadequate rainfall, the difficulties faced by farmers and the immediate measures the government needs to implement.
Amid drought-like conditions in around 215 mandals across the state, the Telangana government has already adopted a resolution in the Assembly and appealed to the Centre to declare these areas drought-affected, provide adequate financial assistance and allocate a special package of Rs 20,000 crore.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to urge the Centre to provide an additional 50 days of employment under the employment guarantee scheme, over and above the standard 125 days. He said the state government was ready to facilitate the additional employment days.
A decision on forming an all-party committee, if necessary, will be taken after discussions with the ministers, he added.
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, WAR ROOM PLANNED
Officials were directed to organise awareness programmes at the village, mandal, district and state levels after the Dussehra festival.
The Chief Minister also suggested setting up a war room to continuously monitor the situation and establishing a toll-free helpline for assistance.
Senior officials from the Chief Minister’s Office were instructed to keep a constant watch on electricity supply arrangements.
Government Advisor Ramakrishna Rao, MP Vem Narendar Reddy, Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju, DGP CV Anand and other senior officials attended the meeting.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
