The Central and State governments are lackadaisical in initiating relief measures although 256 districts across the country and 6,974 villages in 10 districts in Andhra Pradesh are reeling under severe drought conditions, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna has alleged.
The Union government was non-responsive to the State government’s request for sanction of drought relief assistance of Rs. 1,400 crore, he told the media at Dhone in Kurnool district on Thursday.
The State government merely declared drought-hit areas but was taking no action to mitigate the acute drinking water scarcity and tide over the fodder shortage, he said. Mr. Ramakrishna sought sanction of Rs. 100 crore to each drought-hit district to take up relief measures on a war-footing. He wanted disbursal of ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased due to sun stroke. The government sanctioned Rs. 3 crore for supply of buttermilk sachets, but doing nothing else, he remarked.
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The State government was adopting dilatory tactics in handing over the Polavaram project, which was declared a national project, to the Polavaram project Authority, the CPI leader said. The Central and State governments must ensure its completion by 2019. Ridiculing sanction of Rs. 300 crore for the project, he said the project would remain incomplete even after half a century with such meagre funding.
Accusing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of encouraging defection of Opposition MLAs by luring them with pecuniary offers, assuring contract works and to bear their election expenses, Mr. Ramakrishna said the trend of trying to wipe out the Opposition was against the democratic spirit. Even Ugadi festival and his birthday did not deter Mr. Naidu from engineering defections, he said. CPI leaders Ranga Naidu and Sunkanna were present.
No measures have been initiated to mitigate drinking water scarcity in several parts of the State
K. Ramakrishna
CPI State secretary