Telangana counters El Nino impact with rural employment programme

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is planning a six-month employment programme involving every village in the state, with the objective of mobilising labourers and tackling the effects of El Nino, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Thursday, November 5.

He held a high-level review meeting at the Secretariat and asked Panchayat Raj and Rural Development departments to prepare an action plan that will be implemented from January till July 2027, Times of India reported.

Uttam said that the situation should be converted into an opportunity to create durable water assets, strengthen irrigation infrastructure, and improve groundwater availability.

A list of 355 categories has been prepared covering all activities which can be undertaken in the six months. He said the programme must have a clearly identifiable objective, adequate financial support and effective implementation.

It will leverage the employment guarantee framework (VB-G RAM G) with the existing 60:40 funding arrangement. Additional funds will be supplemented by the state wherever necessary.

Priority to restoration of tanks

The major focus of the programme would be the restoration of existing water resources. This will include activities such as desilting, clearing vegetation and jungle growth, repairs to tank infrastructure and restoration of traditional water harvesting structures.

Construction of check dams across smaller rivers was also discussed as an important intervention to hold run-off and allow groundwater recharge.

The minister asked officials to study groundwater-recharge methods employed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra and replicate them in Telangana.

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