Central team wraps up visit, report 'at the earliest'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, AUG. 8. The nine-member Central team assessing the drought situation in the State wrapped up its two-day visit, after meeting the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the Chief Secretary, Mr. P. V. Rao, on Wednesday and promised to submit its report to the Central Government ``as soon as possible.''

At a brief press conference, Mr. K. D. Sinha, Joint Secretary, Union Agriculture Ministry who headed the team, said the preparation and submission of the report would be on an ``emergency'' basis. The team was here to study the extent of damage and distress caused by drought, the contingency plans and submit a report on the manner in which the Central Government could render assistance, he added.

The members split into two teams for the field visit. While the team led by Mr. Sinha visited Cuddapah, Nellore and Prakasam, the one headed by Mr. S. P. Juyal, Director of Oil Seeds Development, visited Ranga Reddy, Mahbubnagar and Kurnool. Mr. Sinha said they met MPs, MLAs, chairmen and members of Zilla Parishads, farmers, farmers' organisations during their visit. ``It was a 15-hour- long visit that commenced at 8 a.m. We heard and received representations from different sections of people. Their complaints ranged from low rainfall, loss of agriculture production and shortage of drinking water.''

Beyond that Mr. Sinha and other members were tightlipped and did not part with any details of the extent of damage, severity of the situation and their own assessment. ``We are not supposed to make any statement or divulge any information. We will say whatever we want to say in the report to be submitted to the Centre.''

Asked if the State Government submitted any representation, he said the Centre had already received a memorandum from the State. It was based on this memorandum that the Central team had been constituted to visit the State.

The State officials said the Central team during their discussions enquired about the details listed in the State's memorandum seeking Rs. 850 crores submitted to the Centre. They were keen on knowing the contingency plans prepared by the State Government and how they plan to spend the amount immediately, in the next quarter and during the year.

The other seven members of the Central team were, Dr. S. Govekar, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Mr. Patnaik, Joint Commissioner, Department of Food, Mr. V. P. Ahuja, Senior Research Officer, Planning Commission, Mr. V. B. Singh, Joint Director, Ministry of Rural Development, Mr. B. B. Uppal, Deputy Advisor, Ministry of Urban Development, Mr. I. C. Dinesh Chand, Deputy Advisor and Mr. Veeranna, Director, Central Water Board.

Dattatreya plea

The Union Minister of State for Urban Affairs, Mr. B. Dattatreya, met the Central team and pleaded for quick and liberal assistance.

Apprising them of the alarming situation in the State, he said compensation must be released at the earliest to the farmers under the crop insurance scheme and loan repayments must be deferred.

Earlier, the State unit of the BJP presented a memorandum to the team addressed to the Prime Minister seeking similar concessions.

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