AP CM reviews drought situation

Hyderabad, Aug 23 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed all departments to assist the farmers in the drought-affected areas as funds would not pose a constraint.

While reviewing the drought situation in the state, he said the officials would review the matter with bankers to provide agricultural credit to the needy farmers.

Dr Reddy said the rural development department should take up works under the Employment Guarantee Programme in the drought-affected areas, to provide employment to people, who lost their jobs, because of lack of rainfall and agricultural operations He also directed the officials to ensure that sufficient quantity of seed was made available to the needy farmers.

He suggested the Animal Husbandary Department to ensure the availability of sufficient fodder in all the drought-affected villages.

The Chief Minister also directed the panchayat raj and rural development departments to ensure that drinking water was available in the needy villages, a release said.

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