AP to declare drought-hit mandals on Oct 1

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to complete a scientific assessment of the rainfall deficit and declare drought-affected mandals in the State on October 1, as preliminary estimates indicate drought conditions in 513 mandals across 28 districts. At a review meeting on Saturday, the Chief Minister asked officials to identify drought-hit areas early and take measures to prevent crop losses. He also directed the government to send monthly reports on the rainfall deficit and drought situation to the Centre.

Officials said drought identification was being based on data from six parameters, including rainfall, crop coverage, groundwater levels, soil moisture, satellite imagery and reservoir storage. Of the 513 mandals identified in the preliminary Kharif assessment, 268 were classified as severely affected and 245 as moderately affected.

Agriculture department teams, under the supervision of collectors, will conduct field-level assessments of crop and yield losses.

Collectors have been asked to submit drought proposals to the revenue and disaster management department by September 24. The proposals will be examined by a State-level committee on September 29 ahead of the October 1 declaration.

The Chief Minister said Rs 190 crore had already been allocated to protect horticultural crops and directed officials to give the sector priority amid the rainfall deficit and El Nino conditions.

Officials said crops in 1,357 Rythu Bharosa Kendras across 21 districts had been identified as high-risk. El Nino-related stress was expected to affect 17,916 hectares, covering sweet orange, acid lime, mango, red chilli, onion and vegetable crops.

With water availability under pressure, Naidu directed officials to expand micro-irrigation to protect more acreage with less water. Four APMIP services have also been made available through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp platform. Officials were asked to promote natural farming along with micro-irrigation.

Naidu also ordered immediate contingency measures to prevent drinking-water shortages. Tankers should be deployed wherever borewell-dependent areas face shortages, he said.

He specifically directed officials to prepare an emergency action plan for Visakhapatnam, including a meeting with engineers and contractors to accelerate drinking-water works. Officials were asked to explore filling reservoirs around the city on a war footing and speed up the Package-8 pipeline project linking the Polavaram Left Main Canal with Meghadrigedda.

Officials said Visakhapatnam currently had enough water reserves for about two months, making advance measures critical as the rainfall deficit persists.

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The Hans India