Vijayawada: The state government has submitted a report of consolidated financial request for Rs 3,173.09 crore central assistance towards drought relief during 2016-17.
Interestingly, this measure was taken by the state government, after the disaster management department has declared 245 mandals in seven districts as drought-hit, in October, last year, which was already delayed by that time.
In fact, such proposals need to be sent before August but the state government has sent it very recently to the Union government, which may not be taken into consideration, according to a senior official from the planning department.
The state government has sought Rs 1,762 crore as assistance for small and marginal farmers for irrigated and dry land cultivation, Rs 140 crore towards horticulture (assistance to small and marginal farmers), Rs 150 crore towards rural water supply and sanitation, Rs 89.08 crore towards urban water supply, Rs 164.09 crore towards animal husbandry, Rs 839.79 crore for relief employment and Rs 165.68 crore for supplementary nutrition.
In fact, in the third week of October, last year, the disaster management wing of the revenue department has released a GO, declaring 245 mandals in seven districts, as drought-affected mandals.
In the GO MS No. 9, disaster management commissioner K. Dhananjaya Reddy has stated that a meeting of the committee on drought constituted to scrutinise the proposals submitted by the district collectors for declaration of drought-affected mandals was held on October 19. The committee examined in detail the proposals received from district collectors.
The committee after examining the proposals, has recommended 245 mandals in seven districts to the government for declaration as drought-affected in 2016 in terms of drought norms, the commissioner said.
Government after careful examination of the recommendations of the Committee on drought has decided to declare the 245 mandals in 7 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Viz., Anantapur – 63, Chittoor – 53, Kurnool – 36, Kadapa – 32, Nellore – 27, Prakasam – 23 and Srikakulam - 11 as Drought affected Mandals in Khariff-2016.
