Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Wednesday declared 971 mandals in 21 districts of Andhra Pradesh as drought-hit — making the number of districts in the country to be so declared 299. He said late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy wanted to declare drought on September 4. The CM made the announcement after holding a meeting with Commissioner, Disaster Management, Dinesh Kumar, Commissioner, Drought, S Balasubramaniam, Commissioner, Agriculture, Sunil Sharma and other officials.

The state has received deficit rainfall so far and the government has been receiving reports from the district collectors to declare drought in the affected districts.

However, drought is not declared in Srikakulam district keeping in view the model code of conduct in force due to a by-election there for Tekkali Assembly constituency.

With declaration of drought, farmers whose crops have been damaged by more than 50 per cent will be eligible for supply of inputs on subsidy wherever the crop is not insured and also for rescheduling of crop loans by banks. They will also be eligible for sanction of fresh crop loans, Rosaiah said.

The state Government has already initiated several relief measures to tackle the drought. A Contingent plan for Rs 417 crore has been prepared by the Agriculture Department for taking up alternative crops, red gram, and supply of inputs on subsidy. The Horticulture Department formulated contingent plan for Rs 142.51 crores . The Animal Husbandry Department has so far supplied 27,000 quintals of fodder seed for cultivation of fodder and cattle camps are being organised wherever necessary as part of contingent plan of Rs 350 crores.

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