# Water security and drought management in South India > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/water-security-and-drought-management-in-south-india > Updated: 2026-09-03T03:01:12.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. In Andhra Pradesh, officials are responding to drought conditions caused by El Nino, which resulted in rainfall levels significantly below normal. Minister Kandula Durgesh directed officials to prioritize drinking water over irrigation and advised farmers to transition from paddy to less water-intensive commercial or inter-crops. The state also emphasized e-crop registration and insurance enrollment to protect against natural calamities. As the situation progressed, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expanded these efforts by approving 90 crore in seed subsidies for irrigated dry crops and planning the use of borewells, tankers, and canal diversions to protect horticulture and drinking supplies. Simultaneously, in Telangana, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy advocated for a unified national framework for water conservation, proposing scientifically designed rainwater conservation and the geo-tagging of water assets to ensure accountability. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-03: Indian state leaders address water security and conservation Leaders in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are implementing strategies to combat water scarcity, focusing on crop diversification, drought relief, and unified national water conservation frameworks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indian-state-leaders-address-water-security-and-conservation ### 2026-08-08: Kandula Durgesh addresses drought and cultural revival in Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Minister Kandula Durgesh has called for prioritized drinking water use due to drought, promised the revival of Telugu theatre and artist pensions, and noted record tobacco prices. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kandula-durgesh-addresses-drought-and-cultural-revival-in-andhra-pradesh --- Cite as: Water security and drought management in South India. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/water-security-and-drought-management-in-south-india