HYDERABAD: The state government has sought a sum of Rs 3,743.98 crore financial assistance from the Centre to take up relief measures in the drought-affected mandals in the state.
The government has also asked the Union government to send a team to assess the damage. In the backdrop of all 876 mandals in the state being declared drought-affected this season due to scanty and deficit rainfall, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday reviewed the drought relief measures with finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy and other officials at the Secretariat. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Raghuveera Reddy said a detailed report on the loss suffered due to drought is being forwarded to the Centre.
He said crops in 34.24 lakh hectares suffered damage due to drought for which a sum of Rs 1902 crore was needed as input subsidy.
Besides, Rs 180.28 crore for rural and Rs 77.54 for urban drinking water supply and Rs 220.98 crore for animal husbandry department was needed, the minister said. On Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's deeksha at Armoor in Nizamabad district, Raghuveera said it was unfortunate that some leaders were using farmers' issues to derive political mileage.
He said the Congress government has been working for the welfare of farmers for the last eight years. He clarified that the state government need not learn lessons from others.