Overview
- Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday directed officials to prepare comprehensive state and district contingency plans and held a video conference with district collectors to start immediate implementation.
- Departments were ordered to closely monitor India Meteorological Department forecasts and translate scientific advisories into clear, local guidance for farmers through Gram Sabhas, Rythu Vedikas and field extension programmes.
- Officials were told to promote climate‑resilient, less water‑intensive crops and to base district action plans on rainfall forecasts, groundwater status, reservoir storage and local cropping patterns.
- The irrigation department must keep infrastructure ready to store Godavari inflows, maintain transparent reservoir storage data, and district administrations must ensure timely availability of seeds and fertilisers.
- El Niño often lowers monsoon rainfall in parts of India so these precautionary steps aim to reduce risk to rain‑fed farming and water supplies and should be watched for changes in sowing patterns and reservoir releases.