Date:15/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/15/stories/2006121506820300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur

Government to make fresh list of drought-hit mandals in Anantapur

Staff Reporter

All mandals meet parameters of deficit rainfall, dry spell and low yield

ANANTAPUR: The State Government is reportedly reconsidering its decision on drought-hit mandals in the district after receiving all-round criticism for its declaration of only 24 out of 63 mandals in drought-hit list.

Of the four key parameters considered for declaring an area drought-hit, all mandals in the district had complied the norms on rainfall, dry spell and yield. But, the norm of less than 50 per cent sowings was not met in most of the mandals, according to the district officials.

District Collector D. Kadmiel was also learnt to have reported that groundnut, the main crop cultivated in the district, was badly damaged due to long dry spell of more than 40 days. Meanwhile, district ministers and legislators had a meeting with officials concerned in Hyderabad on Wednesday and were learnt to have convinced the latter to include the remaining mandals in the drought-hit mandals list.