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12h ago EN
Telangana declares 365 mandals drought-hit for Kharif 2026
HYDERABAD: Telangana government has declared 365 mandals across 31 districts as drought-affected for the Kharif 2026 season, citing a sharp rainfall deficit during the South West Monsoon. Of the notified mandals, 111 fall under the “Severe” category and 254 under “Moderate.” The notification is valid for six months from the date of publication unless withdrawn […]HYDERABAD: Telangana government has declared 365 mandals across 31 districts as drought-affected for the Kharif 2026 season, citing a sharp rainfall deficit during the South West Monsoon. Of the notified mandals, 111 fall under the "Severe" category and 254 under "Moderate." The notification is valid for six months from the date of publication unless withdrawn earlier. Rainfall and reservoir shortfall The Government order says the State received 615.5 mm of cumulative rainfall between June 1 and September 30, against a normal of 740.6 mm, a deviation of 17 per cent. It attributes the deficit to emerging El Niño conditions, weak low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal and prolonged dry spells. Eighteen of the State's 33 districts recorded deficit rainfall. The Kharif crop area fell from 139.28 lakh acres to 126.06 lakh acres. Paddy was hit hardest, with its area down 18 per cent, from 69.19 lakh acres to 57.00 lakh acres. Live storage in major and medium reservoirs stands at 179.63 TMC against a capacity of 585 TMC, which the government says raises risks for drinking water, agriculture, livestock and power. How mandals were selected Authorities used a two-stage assessment under the National Manual for Drought Management, 2016 (updated to 2020). Rainfall data and dry-spell logs from automated stations formed the first trigger. The second trigger required mandals to show impact in any three of four areas: agriculture, remote sensing (vegetation condition), soil moisture and groundwater. Ground-truthing surveys covered 10 per cent of villages in each mandal, and the field findings were treated as the final basis for the intensity of drought. The Cabinet sub-committee on El Niño impact and drought conditions reviewed the proposals on October 23 and recommended the declaration. The order notes that Kharif drought must be notified by October 30. Where the impact is concentrated Several districts have large numbers of mandals in the severe category, Nalgonda: 28 mandals in all, with the majority classed severe, Jogulamba Gadwal: all 13 mandals severe, Narayanpet: all 13 mandals severe, Nagarkurnool: 10 of 13 mandals severe, Vikarabad: 11 of 20 mandals severe, Khammam: 10 of 17 mandals severe and Wanaparthy: 6 of 11 mandals severe Other districts on the list include Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Hanumakonda, Jagtial, Jangaon, Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Mahabubabad, Mahabubnagar, Mancherial, Medak, Medchal-Malkajgiri, Mulugu, Nirmal, Nizamabad, Rajanna Sircilla, Ranga Reddy, Sangareddy, Siddipet, Suryapet, Warangal and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri. Several of these, including Jagtial, Karimnagar, Mahabubabad, Mancherial, Mulugu and Nizamabad, have mandals classed as moderate. Relief measures ordered District Collectors have been told to begin relief work. Measures include, Input subsidy through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), More drinking water supply,Fodder arrangements and cattle camps where needed, Employment generation under VB-G RAM G. Taking up with the State Level Bankers' Committee the restructuring of agricultural credit and a halt to coercive loan recovery, as permitted under Reserve Bank of India guidelines The Agriculture and Cooperation Department must disburse input subsidy to affected farmers within one month of receiving Central assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), and beneficiary lists are to be published on district and State government websites. The Planning Department has been directed to prepare a memorandum to the Centre seeking NDRF assistance within seven days. District Collectors, along with the heads of agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry and the Civil Supplies Corporation, are to keep registers of beneficiaries and spending and submit progress reports. The notification also says urban and municipal areas within the affected mandals are to be excluded from the drought declaration, although they will be treated on par with drought-affected mandals for drinking water purposes. Mandals not on the list will continue to be monitored and could be added later by a supplementary notification. Assembly resolution and demands on the Centre The order refers to a resolution adopted unanimously by the Telangana Legislative Assembly on September 18, titled "Rainfall Deficit Situation in the State due to El Nino." The resolution urged the Centre to, Send a central assessment team, Sanction NDRF assistance and release the State's share of SDRF, Provide crop loss and input subsidy, along with drinking water, fodder and groundwater support, Provide 50 additional days of work under VB-G RAM G, with the Centre bearing the full cost, Supply more fertiliser and 1,500 MW of additional power, Grant a special drought relief package of Rs. 20,000 crore, Raise the State's borrowing limit under the FRBM Act from 3 per cent to 3.5 per cent of GSDP for 2026-27, Provide more help under Central and Centrally Sponsored Schemes with relaxed norms. ]]>
