Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy Revives Advisory Panels, Warns Farmers Against Paddy

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed the immediate revival of district irrigation advisory panels in Telangana. The panels, comprising district collectors, irrigation and agriculture officials, elected representatives and other stakeholders, are to meet before and during each crop season to assess reservoir and canal supplies and advise farmers on safe cropping choices.

Reddy cautioned farmers not to plant water‑intensive crops such as paddy during the Kharif season, citing low reservoir levels, uncertain second wetting, and El Niño‑related rainfall variability. He ordered officials to publicise current storage positions, especially in the Nagarjunasagar and Sriramsagar projects, and instructed rural water‑supply officials to coordinate with the irrigation department to reserve sufficient water for drinking needs and avoid releases under political pressure.