The state government will implement permanent drought mitigation measures in three mandals at a cost of ₹150 crore to help people and farmers withstand drought conditions, Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy held a review meeting with officials on Saturday to finalise modalities for implementation of pilot project at Midjil in Mahbubnagar district, Uppunuthala in Nagarkurnool district and Makthal in Narayanpet district.
The sites have been selected based on their historical vulnerability to drought, dependence on rain-fed agriculture, socio-economic backwardness and livelihood needs of farming families. The project, being taken up on a pilot basis, with support from the National Disaster Management Fund (NDF), aims to improve water resource utilisation, strengthen farmers’ livelihoods and reduce economic hardships during droughts.
Srinivas Reddy reviewed the project’s implementation, drought-resilient agricultural practices and permanent solutions for drought-prone areas with agriculture and disaster management officials. The disaster management department will supervise the project, with the agriculture department acting as the nodal agency. Disaster management principal secretary Rahul Bojja, agriculture commissioner Surendra Mohan, agriculture director N. Gopi attended the meeting.
He directed officials to establish committees at village and mandal levels in coordination with local representatives and conduct gram sabhas in every village. Comprehensive action plans should be prepared based on public opinion and local needs, ensuring that the benefits reach all sections.
The minister said officials should continuously monitor fund utilisation, selection of works, implementation and field-level outcomes. The project’s success should be assessed not merely by expenditure or completion of works, but by the actual benefits to people and progress in addressing drought-related problems, he said.
Srinivas Reddy also asked officials to give priority to women, youth, farmers and families dependent on traditional occupations, noting that drought affects rural employment, household incomes and livelihoods beyond agriculture. He called for an integrated plan offering permanent solutions suited to local conditions.
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