Chandrababu: AP Govt is prepared to face deficient monsoon

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a statement said Andhra Pradesh government is all geared up to face the situation arising out of deficit rainfall in the state this monsoon.

Chandrababu, who is on a visit to Turkey, held a tele-conference with ministers and senior officials on the situation, a state government release said. Noting that eight per cent less than normal rainfall has been recorded in the state, he directed the Chief Secretary to hold a video-conference with the Collectors of districts facing scanty rainfall.

During his tele-conference, Naidu asked officials to ensure that there is no scarcity of drinking water and fodder anywhere in the state. Work be provided to the needy under NREGA and alternative plans prepared for agriculture, he said.

Observing that water levels are low in the reservoirs in the state, he, however, said situation would improve if there is rainfall during August. Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao informed Naidu that more than normal rainfall was recorded in 345 mandals in the state. But less than normal rainfall was recorded in 325 mandals. Crops are under cultivation in 24.14 lakh hectares, which is 3.81 lakh hectares less than last year's cultivated area, the minister said.

He said 14 types of alternative crop seeds have been readied and they would be distributed to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy. The groundnut crop cultivation has come down from 8.7 lakh hectares to 3.98 lakh hectares in Anantapur, Kurnool and Chittoor districts, the minister said. Naidu assured that the government would stand by farmers, it added.