The Hindu Business Line : 50 pc drop in kharif output — AP to seek Rs 1210-cr drought relief package

FACED with a severe drought situation, the Andhra Pradesh Government has projected a 50 per cent drop in the kharif foodgrain production . To mitigate the impact of the drought, it has decided to seek a relief package of Rs 1,210 crore and 25 lakh tonnes of rice from the Centre.

The Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, said he would meet the Prime Minister on Friday to apprise him of the situation and seek immediate relief. In the meantime, he announced the release of Rs 40 crore to initiate steps to mitigate drinking water scarcity in several parts of the State.

Describing the current drought situation as one of the worst in the last 35 year, the Chief Minister, who held a Cabinet meet on Thursday, said the Government would also request Karnataka to release 45 tmc of water for the Nagarjunasagar.

While the State would benefit from drinking water, the power generated could be supplied to Karnataka, he said. With 933 out of the 1100 mandals in the State declared drought-hit, and erratic monsoon the foodgrain output projected during the present kharif at 86.1 lakh tonnes, is now expected to be around 43 lakh tonnes.

The Rs 40-crore package would have a major focus on meeting the problems of drinking water in rural areas with an allocation of Rs 25 crore. The other initiatives planned are to provide drinking water in urban areas and another exclusive to Hyderabad with Rs 5 crore each as the budgeted support. The balance Rs 5 crore would be towards fodder.

The State Government has also decided to request the Centre to give permission for utilising the balance ARWS funds for meeting the drinking water situation arising out of the serious drought. The Government has identified 933 mandals out of the 1100 as rainfall deficient as on today. With the south-west monsoon completing the season and in the final lap of withdrawal, the drought situation has reached a serious situation.

The Cabinet also came up with a relief package relating to the power sector in view of the drought. Relief in payment of current CC charges on agricultural pumpsets of dried wells/borewells, on application by the farmers and accepted by the utility distribution companies (DisComs).

Such connections will be disconnected forthwith. On borewell getting recharged of groundwater, the connection would restored on application.

The revenue thus foregone by the DisComs would be made good by the Government, an official spokesman told newspersons.

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