Asaduddin Owaisi
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) urged the Telangana government to publish a dedicated summer drinking water plan for Hyderabad and the HMDA region, covering water availability, supply schedules, emergency sourcing arrangements and a public dashboard.
The representation was submitted by Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Wednesday over the effects of El Nino, and the ensuing water paucity in the State.
Flagging the rainfall deficit, declining reservoir storage and groundwater depletion amid concerns over El Nino, Mr. Owaisi urged the government to take immediate measures to safeguard drinking water supplies. He also referred to complaints about water with an ‘unusual colour and smell’.
Mr. Owaisi sought priority water supply to hospitals, schools, hostels and other critical institutions, with ordinary deliveries within 24 hours and a six-hour response to critical institutional failures. He also called for the procurement of tanker capacity against the quantified deficit and the deployment of smaller vehicles with a capacity of 2.5 to 5 kilolitres to serve narrow lanes, particularly in the Old City.
On groundwater depletion, the Hyderabad parliamentarian requested that the September groundwater bulletin and the latest matched-station October readings be placed before the House and made available to the public.
On agriculture, the AIMIM chief called for a clear and dependable Yasangi irrigation schedule for each irrigation command, based on a joint assessment by the Agriculture and Irrigation departments. He also sought a support package covering compensation, seeds, inputs, alternative crops and marketing arrangements if a crop holiday was declared.
Mr. Owaisi called for an urban summer action plan, including drinking water kiosks at intervals of 300 to 500 metres along major roads, bus routes, markets, construction clusters and crowded public spaces. He called for employment support during the summer months and measures to protect vulnerable groups.
He urged the Chief Minister to place the representation before the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to address drought and El Niño conditions and issue the necessary orders at the earliest.
Published – October 28, 2026 08:18 pm IST
