Indian state leaders address water security and conservation

Indian state leaders in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are addressing water security challenges driven by climate factors and the need for better conservation frameworks.

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to secure water supplies for drinking and agriculture following a 52 per cent rainfall deficit caused by the El Nino effect. To mitigate crop loss, the state has approved 90 crore in seed subsidies for irrigated dry crops and is encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to alternative crops. The administration plans to utilize borewells, water tankers, and canal diversions to protect horticulture and drinking water supplies, while seeking additional drought funds from the central government.

In Telangana, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has advocated for a unified national framework for water conservation. Speaking at a Ministry of Jal Shakti summit, Reddy emphasized the need for scientifically designed rainwater conservation and the convergence of various funding programs to avoid fragmented planning. He proposed geo-tagging water assets to ensure accountability and suggested that performance be measured by groundwater recharge and year-round availability rather than the quantity of structures built.