Amid protests from Left parties, the Central drought team toured Anantapur district on Tuesday. The team toured several mandals in the district to study drought conditions which prevailed during the last kharif season in the district.

The team’s tour began with a photo exhibition organised at the District Water Management Agency (DWMA) Hall here. Later, a powerpoint presentation was made on drought conditions in the district at the DWMA hall.

The district collector, Mr V. Durga Das, explained details of rainfall, investment in the groundnut crop, yield and the implementation of various government schemes. He explained about funds spent department-wise for the prevention of drought, schemes being implemented and steps needed to be taken.

Mr Durga Das said that about Rs.881 crore was needed to implement various welfare schemes.

Meanwhile, Left parties staged a demonstration at the DWMA hall, opposing the visit of the Central drought team. Police arrested them.

Later, the team toured Kanaganapalli, Kal-yanadurgam, Brahma-samudram, Rayadurgam and Gummagatta mandal via Marur in Rapthadu mandal.

Police prevented Telugu Desam leader Hanuman-tharaya Choudhary from submitting a memorandum to the Central team members at Kalyana-durgam. The drought team toured the district amid very tight police security.

Farmers of various villages told the team members about their travails. People in Kanaganapalli mandal told the team that if irrigation water is given to the Perur dam, it would help people in three mandals.

They told the team members that they were not receiving timely help from government. People also sought early completion of Handri-Neeva works and desilting of tanks. They said they would face acute shortage of drinking water this year too.

The team members spoke to farmers in Bhanukota and Parvatadevarapalli villages. They asked farmers how much they had spent to cultivate groundnut crop and the yield they were getting.