Minister asks Irrigation officials to make judicious use of water available in projects
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has directed officials to prioritize drinking water security while managing irrigation supplies amid uncertain monsoon conditions. He cautioned against overly optimistic water storage assessments and urged for data-driven management.
Why it matters
Effective water management is critical for agricultural stability and public health in regions vulnerable to climate-driven rainfall variability.
Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has asked the authorities to make a judicious balance between safeguarding drinking water requirements and meeting the irrigation needs, particularly in view of the prevailing El Niño conditions and uncertainty over rainfall during the remaining monsoon period.
Reviewing reservoir levels and irrigation prospects for the remaining Kharif season here on Tuesday, the Minister said water management during the coming months must be guided by prudence, scientific assessment and actual availability, rather than optimistic assumptions about future rainfall.
He said drinking-water security would remain a top priority, he stressed that it should not result in withholding irrigation water where reservoirs and other dependable sources had adequate supplies. “Our approach must be judicious. We have to protect drinking-water requirements while ensuring that water available beyond those requirements reaches standing crops.”
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