TAKING STOCK: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at a meeting with Central team on drought in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy has sought an assistance of Rs.370.83 crores from the Centre to fight drought in 298 mandals of nine districts.

These include Prakasam (32 mandals), Chittoor (37), Kadapa (33), Anantapur (63), Kurnool (30), Mahabubnagar (56), Ranga Reddy (5), Medak (10) and Nalgonda (32).

Talking to the Central study team on drought headed by A. K. Agarwal, Joint Secretary, in the Union Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Reddy said the State had faced three natural calamities since July 2006 and had already spent Rs. 277. 95 crores. The team met him on Friday after a tour of drought-affected districts.

Severe drought

Four districts each were reeling under severe drought in Rayalaseema and Southern Telangana and one in Coastal Andhra, he said. He sought extension of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme to Prakasam and Kurnool, according to a press relase from the Chief Minister's Office.

Whether or not crop insurance was availed of, the Government was extending input subsidy though no clear guidelines were given in this regard, he said and wanted that all farmers be considered for input subsidy. Mr.Agarwal is stated to have admitted that the drought conditions were severe in some of the mandals and hailed the Government's relief measures. He also assured full cooperation in extending maximum benefit to the farmers.

Revenue Minister D.Prasada Rao, Commissioner, Relief, Preeti Sudan, Principal Secretary, Rural Development, K.Raju, special chief secretary, Finance, P.Ramakanth Reddy and Commissioner, Agriculture, Poonam Malakondaiah, were present.

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