Telangana Directs Officials to Educate Farmers on Groundwater Conservation

HYDERABAD — The state government on Friday directed officials across multiple departments, including agriculture and panchayat raj, to educate farmers on the careful and judicious use of groundwater for the remainder of the current crop season.

The directive came after authorities assessed that only around seven lakh acres of agricultural land, out of approximately 30 lakh acres under various irrigation projects, can receive irrigation water during this Kharif season. State officials noted that groundwater reserves across the state currently do not present a satisfactory picture.

With water requirements anticipated to rise during September and October—months where rainfall shortages are projected to worsen—officials were instructed to actively discourage farmers from utilizing automatic starter motors on borewell pumps. The government highlighted that such devices often lead to extracting more water than necessary.

Departmental staff have also been asked to prepare daily groundwater availability status reports, which will be shared directly with farmers. Authorities noted that recent rains failed to make a meaningful contribution to groundwater reserves, while storage levels in major reservoirs also remain discouraging.

Speaking at an interdepartmental meeting convened to review preparedness for El Niño conditions, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao instructed officials to prioritize the restoration of 44,000 tanks and lakes across the state. The minister emphasized that reviving these water bodies remains essential to recharging declining groundwater tables.