CM Revanth Reddy orders round-the-clock power supply to agriculture to prevent withering of crop

No power cuts in next 20 crucial days

CM expressed strong anger and issued strict warning to Energy department officials for power outages.

Warns of suspension of IAS officers for negligence.

El Nino is a disaster similar to COVID. It Could lead to a big crisis if not alert

Formulate a robust action plan to tackle El Nino till June

Take pre-emptive arrangements to ensure no shortage of drinking water and cattle fodder.

Special monitoring team for every mandal involving Group-1 and Group-2 officers.

Hyderabad: Honourable Chief Minister Sri A. Revanth Reddy ordered the officials of the Electricity department to ensure round-the-clock power supply to prevent crops from withering due to the prevailing rain-deficit conditions in the state.

The Chief Minister emphasized the need to ensure uninterrupted power supply until the harvest is completed. Noting that the next 20 days are crucial for the crops, the CM cautioned that farmers should not not suffer crop losses due to power shortages under any circumstances. The officials were
instructed to identify the areas with high agricultural power demand and increase supply accordingly.

The Chief Minister held a review meeting with senior officials on the deficit rains, the impact of El Niño, and the status of electricity and drinking water supply across the state. Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the current situation in each district.

During the meeting, the CM was serious about the regular power outages across the state. CM Revanth Reddy enquired the officials about the reasons behind the power shortage and not improving the situation despite repeated directives to ensure a smooth power supply. The failure of the Energy department to increase power generation following increasing power shortage was discussed in the meeting. The Chief Minister also
inquired about not generating power in full installed capacity at the Yadadri power plant despite arrangements made for coal linkages from Naini and Mahanadi.

The CM warned the officials that ”
“I am accountable to the people. The situation has not changed despite my repeated instructions to supply electricity to protect the standing crops. I will not tolerate actions that cause hardship to the public, and I will not spare anyone found acting negligently,”

Further, CM Revanth Reddy warned the suspension of Special Chief Secretary of the Energy Department, TG-GENCO CMD of Genco, and the concerned IAS officers if they fail to supply power.

” El Niño: A Disaster similar to COVID”

The Chief Minister directed all government departments to remain vigilant, considering the situation arising from the impact of El Niño as a disaster , similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Minister warned that the current situation—which may appear to be a routine issue—could escalate into a severe crisis if proactive measures are not taken.

The CM noted that no one knows how long this situation will last. While it currently appears to be a problem, it will turn into a crisis if we are not vigilant. Officials from all departments must thoroughly assess the impact of El Niño in their respective jurisdictions. The officials were ordered to identify solutions to overcome the challenges and take immediate action.

The CM also noted that the duration of these conditions is unpredictable and emphasized that the government must take all necessary measures to ensure the public does not face hardships until the rains return.

CM Revanth Reddy ordered every department to formulate a robust action plan till June and advised all departments to anticipate the impending crisis and work in coordination.

” Take Measures to prevent shortages of drinking water and cattle fodder ”

Amidst deficit rainfall conditions, the Chief Minister directed officials to make robust arrangements to prevent drinking water shortages for the public. Formulation of advance plans to ensure the smooth supply of drinking water across the state was reviewed in the high level meeting.

The CM stressed that measures should be taken to utilize treated water from Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) for construction activities and other requirements within the Greater Hyderabad area. The officials were instructed to implement special measures to protect livestock from the impact of El Niño and to make advance arrangements to prevent any shortage of cattle fodder.

” Special Supervisory Officers for Each Mandal”

As part of the relief measure , the Chief Minister directed that Group-1 and Group-2 level officers be appointed for each mandal to monitor the impact of El Niño at the field level. The officials would be entrusted with the responsibility of continuously monitoring rainfall deficiency, electricity and drinking water supply, crops, and cattle fodder availability in their respective mandals. An official mechanism should also be developed to ensure the situation in these mandals is regularly reported to the Chief Secretary (CS).

” Awareness on El Nino through Gram Sabhas and Cultural Programmes”

CM Revanth Reddy emphasized the need to create widespread public awareness regarding El Niño as a natural calamity, its impact, and the potential crisis situations ahead. The officials were ordered to organize Gram Sabhas during the period between Dussehra and Diwali. Explaining the impact of El Niño to the public through cultural troupes and raising awareness about water and electricity conservation, as well as the precautions to face the upcoming situation would be highlighted in the campaign.

The local authorities would also explain the severity of this calamity to people from all walks of life, from the village level to the state level. The Chief Minister emphasized that all departments must work in coordination to ensure that the public faces no difficulties until the state receives normal rains.