Hyderabad, August 18: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that the Congress government declare drought in Andhra Pradesh and announce relief measures quickly, claiming a number of farmers committed suicide in the state due to shortage of rainfall. “About 140 farmers committed suicide in the last 50 days as severe drought is prevailing in over 1,000 mandals in the state.
A number of measures have to be announced to provide relief to the people,” he said in the Assembly during a debate on drought. Criticising the government for not declaring drought in the state so far, he wondered how the AP government would obtain funds from the Centre without announcing that the state is drought-hit.
“States like Bihar, Jharkhand have already declared drought. If you don”t declare drought, why would the Centre give funds for drought relief.
How do you plan to get aid under the Centre”s national calamity fund,” he asked. On Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy”s reported remarks that banks don”t provide loans to farmers if drought is declared, Naidu said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure loans.
—PTI–