Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu holds teleconference on drought situation

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today appealed to the NGO's to come forward and be partners in the activities taken up by the government for mitigating drought.

He advised University professors and students to bring awareness among the farmers by taking field trips. He also asked students to take up research activities at the ground level and submit their suggestions and best practices for implementation.

Speaking at a teleconference from Anantapur the Chief Minister asked the officials to list out on a daily basis the number of rain guns, tankers, and oil engines arranged and used at every village.   

“I want a real-time update of the various activities happening at the ground level,” said the CM.

The Chief Minister remarked that Farm Pond Scheme ‘Panta Sanjeevani’ is proving to be a great boon to the farmers and restored their trust in the scheme. The use of Rains guns for protecting standing crops has won the confidence of the farming community the Chief Minister added.

Mentioning the need to create more awareness among the farmers on the use of farm ponds, rain guns and other water conservation methods, the Chief Minister said that he has declared war on drought and ordered that water should be diverted to places where there is no record of rainfall yet. Utilization of rain guns to save crops is an innovation and this experiment should be a model if a crisis like situation evolves, the CM stated.

The Chief Minister expressed relief and happiness over the monsoon showers which lashed the state and in particular the coastal areas.

He reminded the officials that not a single acre of land should go dry and said that land where important crops such as groundnut is grown should be made wet.