Ensure Nellore inclusion under APDMP, officials told

Nellore: Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that the district administration had sent Rs 20 crore worth proposals for water schemes and fodder in the district. 

In a review meeting held here on Saturday, the Minister directed the officials to send proposals for including the district under Andhra Pradesh Drought Mitigation Project (APDMP). 

Agriculture Minister also informed that the state government had announced 45 mandals out of 46 in the district as drought prone areas. 
He said that the district had received 55 per cent of deficit rainfall this year whereas it was 63 per cent deficit last year. 

State government has been providing works to one lakh workers on daily basis under NREGS for safeguarding their livelihood, said the Minister.

He further said that the state government had released Rs 2 crore to 1,684 farmers as input subsidy and also stated they had instructed the officials to release Somasila waters to improve groundwater levels in Penna River.

The Minister told officials he had asked Transco officials to extend power supply timings for irrigation activity where the crops were in drying condition. 

“Officials have to take measures to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the farm produce and drinking water to all mandals,” he instructed. 

MLA P Srinivasulu Reddy, Gudur MLA P Sunil and others were present. 
Further, the Minister formally launched Bala Sanjeevani programme at Allipuram village.