Telangana faces drinking water shortage as El Nino hits
HYDERABAD: The state is facing a drinking water shortage as the El Nino effect, deficient rainfall and declining flows in rivers and major reservoirs reduce water availability at intake wells under Mission Bhagiratha.
Flows in the Krishna and Godavari basins have declined, affecting water availability at 76 intake wells linked to various projects. The drop in water levels has reduced pumping capacity, with water supply disruptions already reported in nearly 500 habitations across the state.
The government has alerted the Rural Drinking Water Supply department and concerned engineering officials to prevent the situation from worsening.
Government identifies alternative water sources
Officials are identifying areas where water availability is declining in borewells linked to 56,134 hand pumps, 47,626 single-phase motors and 30,012 Public Water Supply (PWS) three-phase motors across the state.
Water levels in 7,250 open wells in rural areas are also falling rapidly.
The government has issued guidelines to district collectors to prevent drinking water shortages. In districts including erstwhile Mahbubnagar, Rangareddy, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad, officials have been asked to identify private agricultural borewells and take them on lease to meet drinking water requirements.
The government is also examining alternative arrangements and taking steps to prevent water levels in drinking water projects from falling further.
