With drought conditions prevailing all over the State, TDP government declaring just 196 mandals as drought prone is ridiculous, said YSR Congress has demanding the details of action plan the government is contemplating to implement to mitigate the situation. ‘It is ridiculous on part of the Government to declare 196 mandals as drought hit though all the mandals in the 13 districts are badly affected due to deficit rainfall and agricultural operations were taken up only in 50 per cent of the cultivable area. This shows the magnitude of the situation and Agriculture minister himself had admitted in August that over 325 mandals are affected,’ party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma said Wednesday.

The State Government should come up with an action plan and announce how it is going to deal with the situation as even Krishna delta is facing drinking water shortage. As promised in the election manifesto, TDP government should categorically state whether it will set up market stabilization fund and provide crop insurance to the farmers. While cotton, tobacco and other crops were hampered, it is the turn of paddy if proper steps are not taken in time and the State should announce its action plan immediately, she said adding that a TDP MP and an MLA had come out in the open to provide water to delta region.

The state had already witnessed 632 suicides and unless proper steps are taken in all the mandals, the situation would turn from bad to worse, she said.