Protect crops in R’seema by providing free power, CM tells officials

To protect the withering crops in the four districts of Rayalaseema, the Chief Minister has directed the officials to ensure uninterrupted free power supply for agricultural purposes. 

In a face-to-face with farmers at Gunduvaripalli village under Amadagur Mandal in Anantapur district, the Chief Minister examined the working of the rain guns there. “Free power supply for agriculture must be ensured to the districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kurnool and Kadapa till the last spell of rains, or for one week,” the CM said, and added that 31 mandals in Anantapur and Chittoor have a severe drought situation.

In every Assembly constituency, one IAS level officer will be made in-charge to tackle the drought situation. Likewise, at the mandal level, a group I officer will be appointed, the Chief Minister said. If need be, a Minister at the constituency level will also be appointed, he added.

Water from the Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project will be diverted to the Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir and also to the surrounding lakes, the CM said and directed the contractors of Handri Neeva project to speed up construction work. He said he would hereafter personally monitor the works from the Command and Control Center at Vijayawada and warned that no more delay would be tolerated.

The Chief Minister said an additional 4,000 rains guns and sprinklers would be procured from Maharashtra to ensure that not an acre of land goes dry. Through the usage of rain guns, water should be provided to one lakh acres of land per day to prevent the crops from withering, he said. To overcome the drought situation, maximum water from the River Krishna will be diverted to the Rayalaseema, the CM said. (NSS)