Hyderabad: National Disaster Management Authority former vice-chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy has called for implementing Four Waters Concept on a large scale to tackle recurring droughts, arguing that watershed development could ensure water availability for three crops a year even during drought conditions.
Shashidhar said the model required a minimum average annual rainfall of about 500 mm, while several drought-affected states received between 650 mm and 1,200 mm annually. He estimated the current cost at around ₹15,000 per acre.
Speaking to the media, Shashidhar said El Niño was a recurring climate phenomenon whose impact could be compounded by climate change, making it necessary to move beyond temporary drought relief towards a long-term strategy for drought-proofing. He said Four Waters Concept, developed by irrigation expert T Hanumantha Rao, had delivered results in rain-fed areas but remained largely under-utilised despite several govt programmes aimed at water conservation. Reddy said Telangana should prioritise the model as farmers face uncertainty over irrigation water and crop prospects amid rainfall deficits associated with El Niño.
He argued that watershed-based water conservation offered a long-term alternative to repeatedly spending on drought relief. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Hyderabad | Silver Rate in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad | Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Petrol Price in Hyderabad | Diesel Price in Hyderabad | CNG Price in Hyderabad | LPG Price in Hyderabad