Rains give fillip to farming activity

Nellore: Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said on Thursday at Tada that district had received abundant rainfall for agriculture activity. The rainfall on Wednesday was more than half of the average of this month. Earlier, he participated in a review meeting with officials.

The Minister stated that despite hardships due to heavy rains it has been a big respite to the farmers for starting agriculture activity for the second crop in the district. He said the district experienced an average rainfall of 15.16 cm in the last three days. He said the Chief Minister has been speaking to the Ministers and district officials frequently on taking up relief and rescue measures.

Minister Narayana, in-charge Collector A Md Imtiyaz Ahmed, city Mayor Abdul Aziz, and other officials visited Balaji Nagar area limits which were severely hit by strong winds. He interacted with local people and enquired about relief operations. He observed trees and electric poles were uprooted and houses were damaged in the colonies.

He assured local residents that the State government will pay compensation for damaged houses as per guidelines. The Minister directed officials to take immediate measures for restoring power supply in Balaji Nagar and also to improve sanitary conditions. Narayana asked officials to supply drinking water to the residents till power supply is restored.

Speaking to the media, the Minister said that about 10 hectares of groundnut crop were damaged in Atmakur. About 51 electric poles in the entire district including 22 in the city were uprooted and 24 transformers were damaged, he added. Narayana stated that officials will be supplying drinking water to the affected colonies through water tankers.

Nellore RDO Venkateswarlu, in-charge Commissioner Imamuddin, Transco Chief Engineer Nanda Kumar, District Hospital Development committee chairman C Narasimha Rao and others were present.