HYDERABAD: The state government on Thursday started the exercise of identifying drought-hit mandals. A preliminary meeting was held at the Secretariat here on Thursday and after another one or two more meetings in the next three to four days, the government would declare the drought-hit mandals.
Except Adilabad, Khammam and Warangal districts all other districts were reeling under severe drought this season. In Warangal district too, Jangoan and some mandals in Karimnagar too did not receive any rainfall.
Except urban mandals, all rural mandals in six districts - Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda, Khammam and some mandals in Karimnagar and Rangareddy districts may be declared drought-hit.
“We have started the exercise today. We will conduct one or two more meetings. The exact number of mandals to be declared drought-hit will be known after the final meeting,” a senior official of the revenue department said.
As per the procedure, the state government would first declare drought mandals. Then a report should be sent to the Central government after which a Central team will arrive in the state for a field visit. ens