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A nine-member high-powered central team arrived in Hyderabad on Sunday night on a four-day visit to assess the damage due to the drought conditions in Andhra Pradesh even as the problem was washed away by the recent spate of rains in several parts of the state.
The state government had intimated the central government as early as July 24 about the drought situation and the chief minister had repeatedly urged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his visits to Delhi, to provide financial assistance.
The Central government deputed a team rather belatedly, almost seven weeks after the state made its request.
In the meantime, the dry spell was broken by rains in August, which reduced the rainfall deficiency in the state from 50 per cent on July 24 to 26 per cent as of September 4.
The result is that during their district tours, the central team is likely to see a lot of greenery all around.
The team is headed by National Horticulture Board Managing Director J S Negi. It was to hold discussions with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Secretary K Swaminathan and other senior officials after touring affected areas.
Relief Commissioner D C Rosaiah concedes that the greenery now in evidence would present a deceptive picture as the ground situation remains grim with several of the 836 mandals (villages) facing shortage of drinking water and fodder.
Among other things, he pointed out that the area under paddy cultivation had come down by 50 per cent.
Besides, the earlier long dry spells had already caused immense damage to the agriculture sector due to non-sowing or delayed sowing of seeds, he said.
"The late rains will be of no help to those farmers who invested heavily on raw material and seeds following initial indications of a normal monsoon," Rosaiah said.
The state government had sought cash assistance of Rs 8.11 billion besides 1.5 million tonnes of free rice under the Food-for-Work programme for drought relief measures.
AN EARLIER REPORT Drought situation in Andhra Pradesh frightening: Chandrababu
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