The centre has ​ordered more than 100 captive coal-fired power plants to ‌operate at maximum capacity from October 1 through ​year-end to meet what it ⁠expects will be a rise in electricity demand.

The Ministry of Power’s order, invoked under emergency provisions of ‌the Electricity Act, applies to plants with installed capacity of at least 50 ‌megawatts.

The aim is to meet ‌an “expected ⁠rise in electricity demand in the coming ⁠months,” showed the order dated September 25 and seen by Reuters.

Nearly 40% of coal-fired plants are operating ​with critically low fuel ‌stock due to a surge in power demand as the El Niño climate phenomenon raises temperatures more than usual.

The plants ‌primarily serve industrial facilities such as aluminium smelters, ​steel manufacturers, cement factories and oil refineries.

The Power Ministry has directed ⁠generators to sell surplus electricity through power exchanges.

The order covers 112 plants belonging to companies including ‌Vedanta, Tata Steel, Hindalco Industries, JSW Steel, UltraTech Cement , Reliance Industries, Indian Oil, Bharat Aluminium, Hindustan Zinc and Nayara Energy.

The Ministry has ordered plants to report weekly to the Central Electricity Authority detailing generation, captive consumption, power sales, ‌available capacity and coal stocks.

Separately, the Ministry ​has extended an earlier emergency order requiring Tata Power’s imported coal-fired plant in Mundra, ⁠Gujarat, to operate at full capacity until December 31, ⁠citing the demand situation.

Section 11 of the Electricity Act allows the ‌government, under extraordinary circumstances, to direct generators to operate power stations in accordance with its ​instructions.

With the government’s announcement last week permitting import of 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar, the domestic prices are cooling down.

However, volatility in domestic sugar prices continues to be a matter of concern.

The current sugar marketing season that began on October 1 last year saw a substantial quantity of sugar sold at ₹38-Rs. 39 a kg (ex-mill price). Prices started going up in January, climbed to ₹48 a kg, and on Monday (August 24, 2026) stood at ₹56 a kg (Maharashtra ex-mill price).

The price was ₹58 a kg (Maharashtra ex-mill) on August 22 and ₹62 a kg on August 21. 

An industry source said the ex-mill prices are likely to hover between ₹50 and ₹60 till November – December.

Office bearers of the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) told reporters in New Delhi on Monday (August 24, 2026) that the recent firmness in sugar prices should not be construed as a shortage of sugar in the country.

India’s sugar balance remains fundamentally comfortable, with net sugar production for 2025–2026 (sugar season) estimated at around 279 lakh tonnes (LMT) against domestic consumption of 280–285 LMT, and projected closing stocks of around 35 LMT. Adequate stocks are available to ensure uninterrupted domestic supplies through the transition into the next sugar year.

The recent increase in sugar prices is the result of a convergence of temporary factors, including lower-than-initially-expected production, heightened festive-season demand, market sentiment, and firm international sugar prices, according to the ISMA.

Welcoming the Union Government’s steps to stabilise prices, such as the import of 10 lakh tonnes of duty-free raw sugar, restrictions on holding stocks, and the possible advancement of the 2026–27 crushing season, they said that such measures together constitute a comprehensive package aimed at strengthening market confidence, discouraging speculative holding, and facilitating smooth availability of sugar.

Sugar mill sources say imported sugar, probably from Brazil, will land in Indian ports only by mid-October. The government has also permitted sugar refineries that have stocked sugar imported under an advance licence (for export after value addition) to sell some of the stock in the domestic market.

Annamayya District Collector Nishant Kumar on Wednesday said that the district administration was ready with an extensive climate-resilience action plan to mitigate the projected El Niño conditions such as prolonged dry spells, high temperatures, air and soil moisture stress and rainfall deficiency.

Speaking to The Hindu, the Collector said the strategy would comprise water conservation modules, climate-resilient agriculture methods, micro-irrigation, drinking water security and livestock protection to bring down climate-related risks and protect rural livelihoods across the district.

“We are prepared with a proactive approach to ensure that farmers and rural communities are safeguarded from the adverse effects of climate variability,” the Collector said.

Pelletized Pre-Monsoon Dry Sowing (PMDS) would be a key driver, which is being promoted as a climate-resilient agricultural practice. “PMDS has already covered 50,154.2 acres in Annamayya district and it will benefit 47,245 farmers. We have also identified 22 high-risk and three medium-risk mandals for focused interventions. The focus is also to promote short-duration and drought-tolerant crops suited to local rainfall conditions,” Mr. Nishant Kumar said.

The Collector said that the Jaladhara water conservation initiative had been intensified, with 4,304 works taken up across the district. “We could achieve a remarkable feat of restoring 3,443 kilometres of feeder channels, which enhanced water storage capacity and improved groundwater recharge in several mandals. Current groundwater availability has also increased phenomenally compared to last year. This clearly shows the impact of sustained conservation measures,” he said.

Micro-irrigation has been given top priority through substantial subsidies for eligible farmers, while water-saving cultivation practices received a fillip in drought-prone mandals. The Horticulture department has been instructed to initiate crop-specific measures to protect fruit and vegetable crops in view of the prolonged heat and fall in moisture, the Collector said.

HYDERABAD

Working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K.T. Rama Rao alleged that the Congress government has completely failed in weathering the drought conditions this season caused by the El Nino effect, despite the weather scientists forewarning.

Speaking at a meeting at the party office here on Monday to admit a businessman from Banswada constituency Moril Srinivas Rao into BRS, he said the government did not respond to the forecasts and holding a meeting now would not have any positive impact for the farming community as water levels in most of the reservoirs were around or below dead storage, while the government actions were in cold storage.

He pointed out that the Congress government had betrayed every section of the electorate starting from failure to fill 2 lakh jobs in the first year of coming to power itself. Hitting out at sitting legislator of Banswada Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, who had defected from BRS to Congress, he remarked that Mr. Reddy was not in a position to tell his constituents as to which party he was in now.

Mr. Rama Rao stated that people of Banswada would teach a fitting lesson to Mr. Reddy in the next election as they had already made up their mind to elect anybody fielded by BRS. Turning to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the BRS leader said the former was excelling in only one task — ‘taking money bags to Delhi to give additional lease of life to his post’.

“Except for abusing KCR (former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao) and taking vows in the name of god to make promises, Mr. Revanth Reddy had no other work. As a result, the agriculture sector had been pushed into crisis over the last two years,” Mr. Rama Rao said. The Chief Minister had failed to fulfil any of the six guarantees and other promises completely.

On the Kaleshwaram project, the BRS working president said the ‘sincerity’ of the government in rehabilitating the project was exposed in the fact that it had failed to repair damaged portions of the Medigadda barrage. Keeping aside that rehab work, the government had the opportunity to lift water at the available level in the Godavari river without closing the gates of Medigadda and deprived the farming community to raise an assured crop.

Party leaders V. Prashanth Reddy, Bajireddy Goverdhan, Hanumanth Shinde, A. Jeevan Reddy and others attended the meeting.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts for Sunday (July 19, 2026).

Mumbai city and its suburbs witnessed rainfall from Saturday (July 18, 2026) night. Areas including Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Vile Parle and central suburbs received precipitation during the night. Light to moderate showers continued on Sunday (July 19, 2026) morning.

Weather analysts indicate that western and central suburbs of Mumbai may receive more rainfall on Sunday (July 19, 2026). The meteorological department has predicted an increase in rainfall intensity from Wednesday.

A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has influenced the State’s weather. Though the system weakened on Saturday, cyclonic circulations persist in the atmosphere, sustaining the rainfall.

The rainfall follows a pause after heavy downpours in North Konkan and Mumbai during the first week of July. That spell had caused waterlogging at several locations. The subsequent break in rainfall had led to a rise in temperature and delayed agricultural activities. Farmers have received relief with the return of precipitation.

The State Disaster Management Department has issued a 24-hour high tide alert for the Maharashtra coast. Fishermen and coastal residents have been advised to take precautions. While a low-intensity earthquake in the Arabian Sea has not created any maritime hazard, fishermen have been advised against venturing into deep sea. Vessels, trawlers and fishing equipment on shore should be secured properly.

Residents, tourists and children have been advised to avoid beaches and rocky areas. The public has been instructed to follow updates from the local fisheries department, coastal administration and the meteorological department.

Emergency contact numbers include the Indian Coast Guard at 1554, Coastal Security Helpline at 1093 and State Disaster Management Cell at 1070.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts for Sunday (July 19, 2026). Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are expected in Palghar district.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said the State government would complete the J. Chokka Rao Devadula Lift Irrigation Scheme on a war footing by clearing all pending bills, and by expediting the remaining works.

Mr. Vikramarka, accompanied by Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, visited the project and reviewed its progress with senior officials in Kannaigudem mandal of Mulugu district. The Ministers also inspected pumping facilities, water storage conditions, and ongoing works at various components of the scheme in Mulugu district.

Addressing the media after the review, Mr. Vikramarka criticised the previous BRS government over the condition of the Kaleshwaram project barrages. Referring to the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), he said that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) had advised against storing water in the structures until repair works were completed.

Mr. Vikramarka said the government was taking precautionary measures in view of the possibility of deficient rainfall and El Nino conditions. As part of this strategy, efforts were being made to fill all 22 reservoirs linked to the Devadula project and maximise utilisation of Godavari waters.

Of the ₹146 crore sanctioned, ₹58 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition, ₹74 crore for pending project works and ₹ 14 crore for maintenance activities. He said there would be no shortage of funds for the project and assured that all pending issues, including land acquisition and technical bottlenecks, would be addressed expeditiously.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government aimed to fully utilise the project’s designed capacity of 38.16 TMC and provide irrigation water to the entire ayacut. He added that all 10 pumps in the Devadula system would be made operational to ensure uninterrupted supply of irrigation and drinking water to nearly 12 districts in the Godavari basin.

Mr. Vikramarka emphasised that the Devadula and Sita Rama Lift Irrigation projects would be completed on a war footing with the objective of providing a dependable water source to farmers in the erstwhile Warangal and Khammam districts.

Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy described the Devadula project as a top priority project for the government. He said a comprehensive review was conducted on land acquisition, pending works, pumping capacity and reservoir filling, and instructions were issued to ensure that all 10 pumps become fully operational within the next few days.

He added that water was already being pumped into reservoirs at different stages and that efforts were under way to ensure all 22 reservoirs were filled to capacity.

Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy noted that the scheme has the capacity to provide irrigation to about 6.14 lakh acres, with a majority of the ayacut located in the erstwhile Warangal region.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has held a high-level meeting with State Agriculture Ministers and officials on El Nino situation, that has so far resulted in a delay of monsoon. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr. Chouhan said the rainfall so far has been around 43% below normal. The Centre has assessed that 315 districts are vulnerable and 111 districts in 12 States are of primary concern due to poor irrigation facilities. “We are preparing in advance. Not waiting for a crisis,” the Minister said adding that each 315 district will have a contingency plan to face the climatic challenge.

Agriculture Ministers of States, senior officials, district collectors of vulnerable regions, experts from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and officials of the Union Agriculture Ministry and the Indian Meteorological Department attended the meeting. Citing IMD forecasts, he said rainfall is likely to remain weak even during the week ending July 2. “This could directly affect Kharif crops, particularly in rainfed regions where agriculture is heavily dependent on monsoon rains,” he said. Mr. Chouhan maintained that the government is not waiting for conditions to deteriorate but is proactively implementing scientific planning and field-level interventions to minimise the impact and safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.

“Around 315 districts have been identified as potentially affected by weak monsoon conditions. Of these, 111 districts [20 of these districts are in Maharasthra] have been categorised as high priority, where irrigation coverage is below 25%. Another 76 districts fall under the medium-priority category with irrigation coverage between 25 and 50%, while 128 districts have been classified as low priority owing to relatively better irrigation facilities through dams and other sources,” the Minister told reporters.

The districts are located across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. “Detailed discussions were held with Agriculture Ministers and District Collectors of these states, and they were urged to expedite preparedness at the local level,” he said adding that the District Agriculture Contingency Plans, prepared by the ICAR, incorporate district-specific climatic conditions, cropping patterns, water resources and risk factors and prescribe measures such as suitable alternative crops under low rainfall conditions, crop diversification strategies, optimum use of available water resources and additional income opportunities to mitigate risks.

“Water conservation and harvesting works under MGNREGA and forthcoming rural development programmes such as VB-GRAMG should receive priority so that employment generation and enhancement of water storage capacity can go hand in hand,” he said.

He warned that severely weak monsoon could lead to fodder shortages for livestock. “To address this possibility, advance supply plans are being prepared to transport fodder from surplus regions to deficit areas. Fodder stocking, alternative fodder sources and supply chains are being planned in advance to prevent sudden disruptions for livestock owners,” he said.