Tirupati, November 09: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is very sympathetic to the State, which faced severe drought and unprecedented floods, and promised all help to Andhra Pradesh in implementation of relief and rehabilitation measures, Chief Minister K Rosaiah has said.
Speaking to mediapersons after holding a meeting with the district officials here today, he said the Prime Minister had already sought a report from the Central team, which visited the State to assess the drought, to provide speedy relief.
The Prime Minister promised to extend all help to the people of Andhra Pradesh, who were affected by the twin natural calamities. The Centre had already released Rs 1,000 crore aid as the first installment without waiting for the report of the Central team on floods, Rosaiah said, exuding confidence that the State would get more funds for implementation of relief and rehabilitation measures in the affected areas.
Only nine districts in the State received normal rainfall this year.
Hence, the State Government initiated several measures to augment drinking water supply in the drought affected districts, including Chittoor. The demand for inclusion of 20 more mandals in Chittoor district in the list of drought-hit mandals would be considered sympathetically, he said.
Replying to a question on slow progress of irrigation projects taken up under Jalayagnam due to fund crunch, the Chief Minister said there was no slowdown in execution of works. “Jalayagnam is our flagship programme and we would implement it with full vigour.’’ Allaying the doubts over materialisation of NTPC-BHEL power plant equipment manufacturing unit at Mannavaram after the tragic demise of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Rosaiah said he got a written communication from the Prime Minister that the date for laying of foundation stone for the project would be fixed soon. “The dream of YSR will be fulfilled soon,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Chief Minister reviewed the drought situation in Chittoor district. Assembly Speaker Kirankumar Reddy, Ministers Galla Aruna Kumari, P Ramachandra Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao, MLAs and officials were present.
A host of district Congress leaders welcomed the Chief Minister at Renigunta airport on his arrival.
–Agencies