Bapatla Steps Up Measures To Tackle El Nino Impact

The Bapatla district administration has intensified measures to tackle the impact of El Nino, with minister Kolusu Parthasarathy directing officials to protect farmers, livestock and industries.

At a review meeting attended by officials of 14 departments, the minister noted that the district had recorded a 44.7 per cent rainfall deficit, while cultivation had been taken up on 67 per cent of the targeted 1.66 lakh acres.

The district’s Gross Value Added increased from `2,127 crore last year to Rs. 2,918 crore this year, improving its rank from 11th to eighth, officials said.

Farmers were alerted in advance and 39,862 PMDS kits were distributed. An amount of `113 crore was credited to 97,890 farmers under Annadata Sukhibhava and PM-Kisan. All crops had been registered under e-Crop for insurance coverage, officials said.

Water scarcity remained a concern, with 75 per cent of the SS tanks having water reserves for 90 days, while 20 tanks had reserves for only 30 days. Officials were directed to refill the tanks through the KWDT canal and borewells and ensure that canal water was not diverted for irrigation.

In the fisheries sector, `28.8 crore was provided to 14,447 fishermen during the ban season. The `450-crore Nizampatnam fishing harbour was scheduled for completion by December, while the Dindi aqua park was halfway through, officials said.

The administration would focus on horticulture and palm oil cultivation, with 10,000 saplings already distributed and plans to expand cultivation to 550 acres.

Collector Dr Vinod Kumar said 15 mandals were facing drought conditions, with rainfall far below normal. Legislators sought additional urea, fodder subsidies and timely release of water.

Parthasarathy said roads, beaches and tourism projects would be developed and that protection of livestock and uninterrupted power supply would remain priorities.