CM sets up high level panel to study drought in the state

Hyderabad, Aug 14 :

 With drought situation getting worse with every passing day across the state, the Chief Minister, Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, on Friday set up a high level committee to look into the various aspects of drought.

The committee consists of seven members will assess, monitor and suggest ways to counter state’s drastic drought. The committee consists of Finance Minister K Rosaiah, Minister for Home Sabitha Indra Reddy, Revenue Minister Dharmanna Prasada Rao, Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy, Rural Development Minister Vatti Vasanthakumar, Jupalli Krishna Rao, MLA and Vishvaroop, MLA as members.

The team will basically concentrate on ways to counter drought caused by the failure of annual monsoon rain.

As most parts of the state are hit by severe drought, paddy crop has been affected badly. According to the All India Rice Millers Association, the total production of rice this year may decline anywhere around 30 per cent, in terms of volume it will be approximately 60 million tonnes.

The government has already asked the District Collectors to send the list of farmers who committed suicide due to the prevailing drought situation. It also raised the compensation amount to Rs 1.50 lakh from Rs 1 lakh for the families of farmers who committed suicide.