Hyderabad: Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir has rejected KTR’s drought claims, accusing the BRS Working President of misleading farmers. He said the Congress government had not declared a “crop holiday”. Instead, it had advised farmers against water-intensive Rabi crops, especially paddy, where irrigation was uncertain.
“Farmers risk losing their investment in seeds, fertilisers and labour if water runs out midway. How does warning them become a crop holiday?” Shabbir asked. He was responding to K. Tarakarama Rao’s press conference on Thursday.
To question KTR’s criticism, Shabbir recalled restrictions along the Nagarjunasagar left canal in 2023. He also referred to BRS-era advisories that urged farmers to reduce paddy cultivation during years of low water storage. Similar precautions, he asked, were now being portrayed as anti-farmer measures.
Shabbir also challenged KTR’s claim that the drought was man-made and water was going waste. He cited National Dam Safety Authority restrictions on the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages. According to him, several pumps could not operate as originally promised.
Much of the Kaleshwaram system remained incomplete or under safety review, Shabbir said. Some components could not store the promised volumes. Major and medium reservoirs held around 180 TMC against their combined capacity of 585 TMC. He said rainfall alone did not explain the water shortage.
“You had years in power to finish the canals, fix structural issues and make the system fully usable,” he said. Shabbir accused the previous government of leaving restricted barrages and incomplete works. He questioned KTR’s criticism of the present government for not operating projects that faced safety restrictions.
The advisor also questioned delays in Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Bhima, SLBC, Sita Rama, Pranahita-Chevella and Devadula. These projects remained incomplete despite heavy spending, he said. Officials were finalising rehabilitation designs under technical oversight. The government aimed to start the works by December-end and complete them before the next monsoon.
Drought claims: Shabbir compares relief efforts in 2015 and 2026
Shabbir cited the BRS government’s response to the drought in 2015. The government declared 231 mandals drought-hit in November that year, after the monsoon had ended. It sought National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) assistance, and approximately Rs 791 crore was sanctioned.
The BRS government also arranged water tankers and private borewells. It provided additional MGNREGA employment and support for livestock, Shabbir recalled. He questioned why similar relief measures now attracted criticism from the opposition.
The Congress government notified 365 drought-affected mandals across 31 districts on October 27, following a 17 per cent southwest monsoon rainfall deficit, he said. The notification covered 111 severely affected and 254 moderately affected mandals. Shabbir asked why the NDRF-linked measures used in 2015 were now being dismissed as an “eyewash”.
He said the Assembly had unanimously sought a Central assessment and NDRF assistance in September. The demand also covered additional employment days, extra power and a special package of Rs 20,000 crore.
The government formed an El Niño Cabinet sub-committee and allotted Rs 1 crore in emergency funds to each District Collector. It also convened an all-party meeting on October 28. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy prioritised drinking water and warned that water stress could continue for eight to 10 months.
Shabbir said the Chief Minister had outlined an employment programme from after Sankranti until May. The government was ready to seek Central assistance through an all-party delegation if necessary.
On KTR’s demand for Rs 60,000 per acre in compensation, Shabbir said investment support continued. Eligible farmers would receive drought input subsidies through the established NDRF and direct benefit transfer process once funds arrived. Collectors had instructions to address drinking-water shortages, fodder supplies and employment needs.
Shabbir rejected the allegation of a “power holiday”. Agricultural power supply continued even when demand approached 20,000 MW, he said. Telangana has roughly 30 lakh agricultural pump sets. Depleted groundwater had affected many of them, he added, arguing that dry borewells could not automatically be blamed on power cuts.
He also addressed concerns over reduced water-supply frequency in Hyderabad and increased tanker bookings. Shabbir cited the prioritisation of drinking water and the reuse of treated wastewater. Authorities had received directions to operate sewage treatment plants at full capacity.
He recalled that the BRS government had also depended on tankers and temporary borewells during the 2015-16 drought and in later years.
