{
  "id": 13968973,
  "title": "Harish blames govt. for ‘mishandling’ drought conditions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/harish-blames-govt-for-mishandling-drought-conditions",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T13:47:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/harish-blames-govt-for-mishandling-drought-conditions/article71574904.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BRS Deputy Floor Leader and former minister T. Harish Rao has harshly criticized the Congress government's handling of Telangana's current drought-like conditions, power shortages, and irrigation crisis. He claims the government did not adequately prepare for the El Nino conditions despite forecasts and warnings over the past nine months. Rao alleged the government failed to take concrete steps to protect farmers and agricultural laborers, and that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy didn't interact with farmers, despite sending messages urging them to gather at Rythu Vedikas at 11 a.m. Rao also accused the government of canceling a virtual meeting with farmers, as Reddy was busy with political engagements. When reports suggested farmers should abandon the second (Rabi) crop due to water and power shortages, Rao questioned how farmers could survive without cultivation and what would happen to daily wage workers who depend on farm work. He demanded the government present an alternative action plan instead of merely offering advice. Rao noted that agricultural laborers from Mahabubnagar and Jogulamba Gadwal districts were already migrating to Karnataka in search of work, citing a road accident involving migrant workers from Gadwal, where some died and others suffered severe injuries. He pointed out that many of the affected workers belonged to Dalit families. Rao recalled the BRS government's previous initiatives in the combined Palamuru districts, such as expanding irrigation networks to generate wage employment and bringing migrants back home. He questioned the current government's actions, asking why workers were being forced to leave their homes again in search of work. Rao highlighted power shortages and coal crises even before the onset of winter, resulting in irregular power supply, with many areas receiving only six to seven hours of electricity. This led to standing crops drying up, and farmers protesting outside power substations instead of working in their fields. He also accused the government of failing to utilize available water in the Krishna and Godavari rivers to protect crops, even as floodwaters remained in Medigadda in Godavari. Rao alleged the government had no intention to use this water.",
  "summary": "BRS leader slams govt. for attributing its failures to El Nino impact",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}