Hyderabad, Oct. 30: Congress leader Mohammed Waliullah Sameer has welcomed Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s measures to address the anticipated El Niño-induced drought, expressing confidence that the Telangana government would protect residents from possible water shortages, extreme heat and power disruptions.
Sameer Waliullah, Congress in-charge for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency and former District Congress Committee (DCC) president, said the government had demonstrated foresight by acknowledging the potential crisis, convening an all-party meeting and initiating contingency measures.
He said prioritising drinking water, monitoring reservoir levels and preparing for a prolonged dry spell reflected responsible governance.
“El Niño is a climatic phenomenon beyond any government’s control. What matters is preparedness. CM Revanth Reddy has recognised the challenge well in advance. As Congress workers, our responsibility is to support these efforts and ensure that the concerns of vulnerable neighbourhoods receive attention,” he said.
Hyderabad Rainfall Deficit Raises El Niño Crisis Concerns
Citing rainfall statistics, Sameer Waliullah said Telangana received 615.5 mm of rainfall during the southwest monsoon against the normal 740.6 mm, resulting in a 17% deficit.
Hyderabad district recorded a sharper deficit of 27%, receiving 458.2 mm against the normal 627.2 mm. Charminar and Saidabad were among the worst-affected mandals, with rainfall deficits approaching 47%, he said.
He also noted that the state had declared 365 mandals drought-affected, including 111 severely affected and 254 moderately affected mandals.
According to the figures cited by him, live storage in major and medium reservoirs had fallen to approximately 180 TMC against a combined capacity of 585 TMC.
Sameer Waliullah said strong El Niño conditions could continue into early 2027, potentially prolonging drinking water shortages, agricultural difficulties and electricity pressures. He welcomed the Chief Minister’s advance warning about possible challenges until July 2027, saying it would allow the government to strengthen preparedness.
El Niño Crisis | Congress Leader Seeks Special Focus on Old City
Highlighting the vulnerabilities of the Old City, Sameer Waliullah said densely populated areas in Charminar, Yakutpura, Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Malakpet and Saidabad required special attention.
He pointed out that many households depended entirely on municipal water supplies and lacked adequate storage facilities.
“Thousands of families live in small houses without underground sumps or sufficient storage capacity. Any reduction in municipal supply could create serious difficulties. Their circumstances must be considered while implementing the government’s contingency plans,” he said.
He appreciated the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) for efforts to augment water supplies through alternative sources amid declining reservoir storage and groundwater levels.
The Congress leader suggested deploying smaller water tankers, establishing neighbourhood-level distribution points and announcing advance supply schedules to help residents in narrow Old City lanes that conventional tankers cannot easily access.
He also stressed the importance of conserving water and protecting local water bodies, noting that declining rainfall and excessive groundwater extraction remained concerns.
Heatwave Preparedness and Power Supply Also Highlighted
Sameer Waliullah warned that dense construction, limited ventilation and inadequate green cover could increase the impact of extreme summer temperatures.
He said daily-wage workers, street vendors, auto drivers, construction labourers, senior citizens and children could face greater health risks during prolonged heat conditions.
“Poor families cannot afford expensive cooling arrangements, while daily-wage workers cannot stop earning during extreme heat. Protecting their health and livelihoods must remain central to our preparedness,” he said.
He welcomed the government’s focus on maintaining electricity supplies and proposed additional public drinking water points, heat-awareness campaigns and emergency medical arrangements in vulnerable neighbourhoods.
The Congress leader also cautioned that agricultural losses caused by drought could push up food prices and increase household expenses. He appreciated the government’s proposed employment-support measures and its emphasis on protecting economically weaker sections.
He added that deficient rainfall did not eliminate the possibility of sudden heavy downpours. Maintaining drainage systems, desilting, groundwater recharge and preventing drinking water contamination would therefore remain important, particularly in the Old City.
El Niño Crisis | Congress Workers to Support Water Conservation Campaigns
Sameer Waliullah said Congress workers across the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency would support water-conservation campaigns, gather feedback from localities and communicate residents’ concerns to the authorities.
He appealed to people to avoid wasting water, repair leaking pipelines and cooperate with government initiatives.
“The Revanth Reddy Government is approaching this unprecedented climatic challenge with seriousness and advance planning. Our responsibility is to strengthen those efforts and ensure that every neighbourhood, especially the Old City’s vulnerable communities, receives the necessary protection. Congress workers will stand with the people throughout this difficult period,” he said.
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