Govt taken measures to tackle drought: Rosaiah

Hyderabad, Sept 9 :

 The Chief Minister, K Rosaiah, on Wednesday said that the state Government will take all contingency measures to tackle the prevailing drought-like situation in almost all the 21 districts.

Talking to media persons after convening a high level meeting with officials concerned at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that there were certain parameters like quantum of rainfall, crop cutting, dry spells and area of cultivation to be monitored before declaring a mandal as drought-hit.

The state recorded a 30 per cent of deficient rainfall in the 21 districts, he added. He said that the Government would release Rs 417 crore to grow alternative crops in drought-hit mandals.

He further said that to provide fodder to the cattle, the Government would release Rs 350 crore. The Government would provide 50 per cent subsidy on fertilizers and seeds for raising alternative crops to the farmers while horticulture department would get Rs.5 crore to provide seeds for short duration vegetable crops on 75 per cent subsidy. The Central funds could be used for addressing drinking water shortage in the state, he pointed out.