Declare drought-hit mandals in Andhra Pradesh, CPI tells government
The CPI in Andhra Pradesh has urged the state government to declare a drought in 21 districts due to a 56% rainfall deficit caused by El Niño. The party is demanding comprehensive relief measures, including financial aid for farmers, loan waivers, and improved irrigation support.
Why it matters
Severe drought conditions threaten the livelihoods of millions of farmers and regional food security, necessitating urgent government intervention.
CPI State secretary G. Eswaraiah has urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to immediately declare as drought-hit all the affected mandals in Andhra Pradesh in view of the severe rainfall deficit caused by El Niño conditions.
In a letter to the Chief Minister on Wednesday, Mr. Eswaraiah said the State had received only 104 mm of rainfall against the normal 225 mm, resulting in a 56% rainfall deficit. He claimed that 21 of the 26 districts and 249 mandals of 608 were facing severe drought conditions.
He said kharif cultivation had been taken up in only 16.35 lakh hectares against the normal 30.84 lakh hectares, with crops such as paddy, cotton, groundnut, red gram, maize and tomato, besides horticultural crops, suffering extensive damage due to inadequate rainfall.
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