Marri Shashidhar Reddy urges long-term drought strategy, nationwide water conservation
The former NDMA vice-chairman proposed wider adoption of the Four Waters Concept, saying rainwater conservation and groundwater recharge could strengthen farming livelihoods and reduce reliance on drought relief.
Former NDMA vice-chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy addresses a media conference in Hyderabad on Monday. Indrasena Reddy of the Justice Subhashan Reddy Trust is also seen.
HYDERABAD: Former National Disaster Management Authority vice-chairman Marri Shashidhar Reddy on Monday called for a comprehensive, long-term drought strategy, urging governments to prioritise water conservation alongside immediate relief.
Addressing a media conference at the Basheerbagh Press Club, Reddy, who is also secretary of the Dr Marri Channa Reddy Memorial Trust, advocated nationwide implementation of the Four Waters Concept developed by the late irrigation expert T. Hanumantha Rao.
He said rainfall deficits and declining water reserves were affecting agriculture in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Successive droughts had depleted groundwater and weakened rural livelihoods, he added, calling for lasting measures to address risks aggravated by climate change and El Niño.
Reddy said the concept had produced encouraging results when implemented in parts of Telangana and Rayalaseema in 2001. He cited Gottigaripalli village in Sangareddy district, saying it had retained sufficient water for three crops despite successive droughts. The approach had also been implemented in Rajasthan, he said.
Its benefits included rainwater conservation, groundwater recharge, reduced soil erosion and improved water availability during dry periods, according to Reddy.
He estimated the current implementation cost at approximately ₹15,000 per acre. Extending the approach across rainfed agricultural areas could improve farmers’ water security and reduce government spending on drought relief, he said.
Reddy said he intended to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek support for nationwide implementation and pledged to continue advocating water conservation.
Indrasena Reddy, associated with the administration of the Justice Subhashan Reddy Trust, also attended the conference.
