Drought damage: Telangana seeks Rs 2,514 crore aid

Hyderabad: Central government teams reached Telangana state on Monday to assess the drought situation in the state. Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma met members of the three Central teams and appraised them of 231 mandals facing severe drought situation in the state besides severe drinking water shortage in GHMC limits and other towns and villages across the state. Mr Sharma sought Rs 134 crore assistance for Hyderabad water supply alone and the overall drought assistance sought was Rs 2,514 crore.

He requested the Central teams to also visit Gandipet, Singur, Manjeera reservoirs that dried up completely after some decades, posing severe drinking water problem to GHMC limits.

Later, the teams left for field visits in selected drought-hit mandals in seven districts to assess the damage caused to crops, the impact of drought on livestock and cattle due to non-availability of water and fodder besides examining the drinking water problem in villages, towns and cities. The Central teams were divided into three groups to tour the districts for two days —Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Sharma brought to the notice of members of the teams that TS witnessed good rains at the onset of monsoon in June prompting farmers to sow crops in large extent of land. However, there were no rains in July and August due to which all the crops withered, resulting in farmers facing heavy financial losses. He also informed them that the groundwater levels across the state have depleted drastically leading to severe drinking water shortage across the state. The state government is forced to supply drinking water through tankers incurring heavy expenditure.

Mr Sharma said officials concerned in districts have kept ready all drought-related information and urged the Central teams to seek any information from them in this regard. The teams will meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday, before leaving for New Delhi.
 

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