Telangana to showcase water-scarcity model

metro india news I hyderabad

Telangana will showcase its unified water-security model at the two-day Departmental Summit being organised by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti at Bharat Mandapam in the capital on September 1 and 2, Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said.

The summit assumes national significance as it will bring together the Centre and States to deliberate on critical issues affecting water security and water-service delivery. The discussions are expected to contribute to a shared, time-bound national action plan for accelerating sustainable water management.

The summit will focus on four major themes—timely implementation of water-infrastructure projects, the Catch the Rain campaign, sustainability of drinking-water sources, and operation and maintenance of rural drinking-water supply systems.

Reviewing Telangana’s presentation, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the State would advocate a practical framework founded on one water-security plan, one comprehensive and geotagged asset register, one designated lead agency, one accountable financing mechanism and one measurable outcome.

Every water asset should, have a unique identity, geotagged location, clearly identified source of funding, responsible implementing agency and measurable benefit, he said.

The Minister stressed that check dams, percolation tanks, farm ponds, recharge shafts and soak pits should be selected scientifically after assessing terrain, rainfall, runoff, soil conditions, groundwater profile and local water requirements.

Telangana has nearly 44,000 minor irrigation sources, of which approximately 28,000 tanks have been mapped, geotagged and restored. These interventions have helped stabilise irrigation across nearly 25.7 lakh acres and recover about 9.7 TMC of storage capacity.

The State has also increased its water-conservation structures from around 5.61 lakh to 15.88 lakh. Telangana was recognised as the Best State in water conservation in 2024, 

while 13 districts from the State figured among the country’s top 15 water-conserving districts.Uttam Kumar Reddy said Telangana’s historic chain-linked tank system would form an important part of the presentation. Instead of treating tanks as isolated assets, the State proposes protection of entire cascades, including feeder channels, upstream tanks, surplus courses and downstream water bodies.

The presentation will also highlight community participation, groundwater monitoring, rainwater harvesting and the convergence of Central and State schemes, local-body funds, MGNREGS, CAMPA, Finance Commission grants and CSR resources.