Telangana Prepares Micro‑Level Plans to Counter El Niño‑Triggered Water and Power Crises

On Monday, October 19, 2026, Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju used a video‑conference to flag the threat posed by the El Niño phenomenon. He asked every department to sketch out "micro‑level" contingency plans that could stop the state from slipping into a water‑and‑power crunch.

Officials huddled over data on groundwater tables, reservoir storages and the current output of thermal plants. The conversation, while technical, had an undercurrent of urgency – the kind of talk you hear when a climate pattern threatens everyday life.

Even though the state's overall electricity generation has been below expectations, the government promised to keep the lights on for farms and households. "We are not going to cut power for industries," Jaju insisted, urging plant managers to stay calm while the administration pushes thermal stations to run at maximum efficiency.

On the water front, Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan drew a line in the sand. New borewells for construction projects in Hyderabad will no longer get the green light. "Only existing wells may be deepened, and strictly for drinking‑water needs," he said. To keep construction sites afloat, the city will rely on treated water from sewage‑treatment plants, delivered via a "dial‑a‑green" tanker service.

Vikas Raj, another senior official, warned that groundwater levels in Rangareddy district are falling fast. The team is already rolling out alternative schemes – rain‑water harvesting, check‑dams and incentives for farmers to shift to less water‑intensive crops – to cushion the impact.

Overall, the message was clear: while the El Niño could stir up trouble, a carefully mapped, ground‑up approach can keep taps flowing and lights burning. The state’s officials walked away with a to‑do list that blends technical fixes with community‑level actions, hoping to stay ahead of the weather.