Declare state as drought-hit: Naidu

Hyderabad, Aug 18 : Opposition and Telugu Desam Legislature Party Leader Mr N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday demanded the government to declare the state as Drought-hit owing to the failure of rains.

Raising this issue in the Assembly, the TDP leader demanded immediate steps to meet the Drought situation and provide assistance to the affected. He demanded that apart from declaring the state as Drought-hit, the farm loans should be rescheduled with waiver of interest and fresh loans should be sanctioned.

Besides, farmers should be paid compensation for loss of crops, free supply of seeds and fertilizers during rains and supply of fodder to cattle. He said that the government should take steps to prevent migration of agricultural labour to cities and extension of the rural employment guarantee scheme to them. He urged the Chief minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to begin relief operations in Drought-hit areas.

Naidu said that the government should allot Rs 50 lakh for each mandal for supplying drinking water to the Drought-hit areas. Similarly, for each municipality, the government should sanction Rs one crore to meet the drinking water requirements. He also urged the government to supply uninterrupted nine hour power to the villagers.

He demanded the government to waive loans sanctioned for Dwacra women and increase scholarship amount sanctioned to students.