The State government has declared 163 mandals spread over nine districts as drought affected.
The number of mandals affected by drought increased to 359 with the fresh declaration.
The government has earlier declared 196 mandals as drought affected. Prakasam district topped the list with 35 mandals followed by Guntur (26) and Anantapur (24). Nineteen mandals in Nellore, YSR Kadapa (18), Chittoor (16), Krishna (14), Srikakulam (8) and Vizianagaram (3) had been declared as drought affected during the current year.
The declaration comes after the Collectors of the respective districts had submitted reports on the drought conditions in their jurisdiction.
They had been asked to ensure deletion of the notified municipal/urban areas and areas falling under assured irrigation sources from the drought-hit mandals list.
Urban mandals
The Collectors had been directed to treat the urban mandals that were not declared drought affected on par with the affected mandals for drinking water requirements.
The district Collectors should take steps to notify the specific mandals/specific areas in the mandal to enable farmers to avail credit facilities besides taking up relief measures.