Bhatti Vikramarka calls for judicious use of water, electricity amid El Nino concerns

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday called for collective efforts to conserve water and electricity amid dry weather conditions and rising power demand, urging the Opposition parties to set aside political differences to tackle the emerging El Nino-related challenges. .

Addressing the media at Kodumuru in Chintakani mandal of Khammam district, he appealed to the Opposition to rise above political differences, recalling the collective efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had reviewed the situation and constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to address the challenges, he said.

Mr. Vikramarka said peak power demand had risen from 6,648 MW at the time of Telangana’s formation in 2014 to 20,018 MW now. Daily electricity consumption had increased from 245.35 million units in October last year to 335.05 million units this October, a rise of about 37%.

He said the expansion of transmission infrastructure and construction of new substations were helping the State manage the growing demand. However, declining reservoir levels were affecting hydropower generation, which normally supplies around 3,500 MW during peak night-time hours.

Of the nearly three million agricultural pump sets in the State, around 1.5 million were reportedly facing groundwater shortages. He urged farmers in areas with inadequate groundwater to avoid operating motors to prevent damage to pumps and transformers.

The State’s major reservoirs, with a combined capacity of 470.22 TMC, held only 178.60 TMC of water, while nearly 40% of its 44,034 tanks had less than one-fourth of their capacity filled.

Mr. Vikramarka said the government would prioritise water conservation while protecting livelihoods of farmers, labourers and rural communities.