ABSTRACT
The present paper highlights the drought situation in the districts of Telangana State. Reeling under a successive drought conditions, the country’s youngest state is facing acute water crisis, with scarcity hitting not just the villages and towns but even the capital Hyderabad. A village-level survey was conducted to study and assess the drought situation in 38 mandals across 7 districts of Telangana.
Acute drinking water shortage due to drastic fall in water levels in major reservoirs, continuing crisis in agriculture and a harsh summer have caused the worst ever drought in Telangana. Dependent mostly on rain water, the state of 35 million people is witnessing migration of small farmers and farm workers to other states. An acute shortage of water and fodder is forcing people, especially the farmers, to sell their cattle at throwaway prices. According to farmers’ organizations, nearly 1 4 million people have migrated from the worst affected districts of Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Nizamabad and Adilabad. The state, with the most number of farmer suicides, has been registering negative growth in agriculture. However, by planning and preparedness along with a drought contingency plan, the region can undertake measures to conserve water both before and during a drought.
