Telangana battles water shortage and delayed Kharif planting as Super El Nino hits

Bharat Rashtra Samithi spokesperson Ravula Sridhar warned that the Super El Nino has pushed Telangana into a severe water crisis, with Hyderabad facing acute drinking‑water shortages. Only 38% of the state’s cultivable land has been sowed this season, and paddy coverage is just 6.4%.

State officials report that 41.79% of the normal Kharif area is under cultivation, with sowing below 20% in nine districts. The agriculture department has activated a contingency crop plan from July 15, promoting short‑duration varieties, distributing seeds and inputs, and convening a meeting with scientists and officials to finalise actions. Cotton leads sowing at 83% of its normal area, while most other crops lag substantially.