VIJAYAWADA: Notwithstanding the claims of the State government that it is taking efforts to make Andhra Pradesh drought-proof, 80 mandals in five districts have been declared as drought-hit in the ongoing Rabi season. Of the 80 mandals, 54 have been declared to be reeling under severe drought.
According to a Government Order (GO MS 1) issued on Monday, the 80 mandals are from Prakasam, Nellore, Kadapa, Anantapur and Vizianagaram districts.
“The government after careful examination of the recommendations of the committee on drought and keeping in view of the reports submitted by the district collectors, has decided to declare 80 mandals in five districts as drought affected in Rabi 2017-18,” the GO reads. The reason for the drought is said to be the failure of the North East monsoon, which was over 40 per cent lower than normal.
Even though the district collectors from Chittoor, Kurnool, Guntur, West Godavari, East Godavari and Srikakulam had also sent proposals, the government is yet to declare the drought-affected mandals in those districts.
“As per the revised manual for Drought Management-2016 guidelines, the areas having permanent or assured irrigation sources and urban/municipality areas can’t be declared as drought-hit even if drought conditions prevail. So we scrutinised the proposals as per those norms,” an official from the Disaster Management Department said.