Telangana Drought-Hit Mandals | Hyderabad, Oct. 28: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has criticised the Telangana government over its selection of drought-affected mandals. He alleged that several areas facing severe rainfall deficits and drinking water shortages were excluded from the list.
In a statement on Wednesday, October 28, Bandi Sanjay questioned the criteria used to identify drought-hit areas. He claimed that even mandals recording rainfall deficits of 35 per cent had been left out.
His criticism comes after the Telangana government declared 365 mandals across 31 districts drought-affected for the 2026 Kharif season. The government classified 111 mandals as severely affected and 254 as moderately affected.
Telangana Drought-Hit Mandals | Bandi Sanjay Demands Transparency in Drought Assessment
Bandi Sanjay alleged that the Karimnagar parliamentary constituency had been treated unfairly despite drought-like conditions in several areas.
He specifically referred to mandals across the Husnabad, Vemulawada, Sircilla, Manakondur, Choppadandi and Huzurabad constituencies. He said farmers were facing barren fields and drinking water shortages in several villages.
The Union Minister questioned whether officials had uniformly assessed rainfall, cropped area, crop conditions, soil moisture, groundwater levels and crop losses. He demanded clarity on the official data and standards used to identify drought-affected mandals.
Bandi Sanjay urged the state government to publish district-wise and mandal-wise assessment data. He also called for reviewing complaints from farmers in areas excluded from the notification.
He said eligible mandals should be included if further assessments establish that they meet the prescribed criteria. He further urged the government to identify drought-hit areas based on ground conditions rather than political considerations.
The minister called for appropriate relief for affected farmers and employment opportunities for economically weaker sections. He warned that neglecting farmers and vulnerable communities could have serious consequences.
Meanwhile, the government’s drought assessment involved rainfall data, dry-spell records and agricultural impact indicators. Officials also considered remote-sensing data, soil moisture and groundwater conditions, alongside field verification. The government has directed district collectors to initiate relief measures in the notified mandals.
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