The Hindu : A.P. team meets PM for drought relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 07, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

A.P. team meets PM for drought relief

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 6. Yet another delegation from Andhra Pradesh today knocked at the doors of the Centre seeking Rs. 810.90 crores and 15 lakh tonnes of rice for carrying out drought relief operations in the State.

Led by its Revenue Minister, Ashok Gajapati Raju, the Agriculture Minister, V.S. Rao and the Telugu Desam Parliamentary Party leader, K.Yerran Naidu, and MPs, the delegation met the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, to press for the early release of funds and rice. Increasing its demand since the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, presented the State's case last month, the delegation reiterated that 836 mandals were affected due to deficient rainfall which was nearly 46 per cent less than normal.

Against the earlier demand of Rs. 610 crores, the State has sought Rs. 810.90 crores, of which Rs. 350 crores was earmarked for drinking water supply both in rural and urban areas, Rs. 190 crores for social security, and Rs. 100 crores each for agriculture seed subsidy and cash component of wage employment programme.

The delegation leaders told presspersons that the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister promised to consider sympathetically the State's request. Yesterday, the leaders had called on the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Sharad Yadav, and the Rural Development Minister, Shanta Kumar.

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