CS holds meeting on drought - TeluguPeople.com News

Hyderabad, April 3 (INN): Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao held a meeting on Friday with Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) of Government of India.

Three teams of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team headed by Shakil Ahammed, Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, New Delhi visited Ananthapuram, Kurnool, Kadapa, Chittoor, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore Districts for assessment of situation in the wake of Drought Kharif-2014.

The three teams have shared their experiences with the Chief Secretary. They have interacted with all the District Collectors of the above mentioned Districts on 1st and 3rd February and the District Collectors arranged Photo Exhibitions at all the places.

Dried-up farmer fields, Horticulture dried-up crops, MGNREGS Works, Drinking Water Transportation, Dried-up sources of Drinking Water, Dried-up Mulberry fields, Desilting of Tank, Urban Water Supply, Price control counter have monitored by the teams and also interacted with the Farmers during their visit, Team Members explained.

Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Water Supply, Urban Water Supply, Animal Husbandry, MGNREGS, Women and Child Welfare Department officers has given Power Point Presentation and Department-wise drought conditions and on the vulnerability of Andhra Pradesh, has explained to the Team.

AP is situated in Tropical Region on East Coast with having 974 kms of coast line and exposed to cyclones, storm surges, floods and drought. The total coastal area is spread over 92,906 Sq Kms in the nine coastal districts are prone to cyclones. Major 5 River systems (Godavari, Krishna, Penna, Vamsadhara, Nagavali) and Floods occur in delta areas of these river basins.

Drought major threat is there in four Rayalaseema Districts and Prakasam. Ananthapuramu, Chittoor, Kadapa, Kurnool and Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh State were included in the list of districts chronically affected by drought conditions as per the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India Manual of Drought Management.

There is -32% of deficit in Rainfall overall the State. Villages 4020 affected to Drought in 238 Mandals and they were declared as drought affected in 2014-15 in view of more than 50% reduction in crop yield of predominant crops in 7 Districts i.e., Ananthapuramu, YSR Kadpa, Prakasham, Chittoor, Kurnool, Nellore and Guntur districts.

Damage to Agricultural Crops, District-wise cropped are damaged, Major Crop wise area damaged, impact o drought on major crops during Kharif-2014 assessed by the concerned departments are informed to the Team. Drought relief measures, required assistance of relief for small, marginal and other farmers as per the State Norms and as per the NDRF Norms, District wise - funds required to mitigate the drinking water problem, amount required for organizing Cattle camps in the drought affected Mandals have been suggested by the Officers to the Team. Mitigation measures taken up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh brought to the notice of IMCT. The Government has decided to allow dry seasonal allowance on unskilled wage tasks under MGNREGS works.

Krishna Rao informed the Central Team that state Government is taking long term measures of drought proofing in terms of its schemes of Neeru-Chettu, Drip Irrigation, Supply of water through major projects like Galeru-Nagari, Handri Neeva Lift Irrigation schemes as a long term permanent solution to the drought conditions in the Rayalaseema area and requested the members of the Committee to make their report realistical keeping in view of the severity of the drought situation in these areas.

Prl. Secretary Revenue JC Sharma, senior officers from Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Water Supply, Urban Water Supply, Animal Husbandry, MGNREGS, Women and Child Welfare Department, attended the meeting.