The Left parties – CPI and CPI (M) – have demanded that the State government declare the entire district as drought-hit and release Rs. 2,000 crore immediately to take up relief measures.
CPI district secretary T. Srinivasa Rao and CPI (M) district secretary S. Vasudeva Reddy said that the government was playing down the issue by reducing the number of mandals affected by the drought. Of over 400 mandals, the government declared only 230 as drought-hit. They said life in rural areas was pathetic with dried up tanks and wells. The cattle do not have proper fodder and drinking water. Farmers, on he other hand, were forced to leave their villages as no drought relief measures were taken up so far. Those who died of sunstroke did not get any compensation. The government should pay Rs. 10 lakh to each of those died of sunstroke.
