Hyderabad: Opposition parties on Wednesday questioned the Telangana govt’s decision to advise farmers against cultivating crops, raised concerns over dam water releases and sought clarity on drought relief measures at an all-party meeting on El Niño preparedness chaired by deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka.
BRS leaders, including former MP B Vinod Kumar and former agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, questioned why Telangana had announced a crop holiday while Andhra Pradesh had not taken similar measures.
They also asked why Telangana could not release irrigation water from its dams when Andhra Pradesh was able to do so, sources said. BRS leaders, however, disputed the argument, according to sources. The issue became a point of contention, with Bhatti citing a caution from the National Dam Safety Authority against releasing water. They also sought to know whether district-level contingency plans had been submitted to the Centre to secure assistance under the National Disaster Management Act.
BJP Legislature Party floor leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy demanded compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre for farmers affected by El Niño and drought. Meanwhile, AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi called for a dedicated drinking water plan for the city’s Old City. His proposals included deploying small tankers, establishing community water tanks and introducing an online booking facility.
He accused the govt of failing to announce relief measures despite warnings about the weather phenomenon six months earlier.