Govt to set up help lines by Aug 19 in all districts

Hyderabad, Aug 14 :

  In view of the severe drought situation in the state , the Andhra Pradesh Government would setup Help lines in all districts by August 19, so that the Government  will have an update of the latest situations in the districts, said Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy here on Friday. The help lines will function round the  clock, he  further added.

 On Friday he held a meeting with senior officers in the state to discuss the drought situation in the state. The discussions  were focused on drinking water problem, providing of fodder to the cattle in drought hit areas, and ways to tackle the drought in the state.

The Chief Minister dismissed the claims by the opposition parties that 70 people have died so far in the state due to drought.  There is no truth in that  report , the  CM vehemently denied the charges made by  the Opposition. According to the reports received as on August 1, only 15 people  have died. But these  suicides were not because of drought ,  the CM added. To have a first hand information from the farmers the CM will be launching the `Rachbanda  program’.

To monitor the drought situation and  to personally involve in the rehabilitation programs carried out by the Government  officials, the CM will undertake a tour of the districts. The touring of districts will begin from September 2. The CM  will launch the tour of the  districts from Tirupati on September2.  He will visit Prakasam on Sept 3, followed by Nellore on Sept 4. Over the next five days from Sept 4 till 9, he will visit Chittoor, Kadapah and Kurnool.