AP declares 456 mandals as drought-hit

The state government has declared 456 mandals across 15 districts as drought hit following deficit rainfall that has affected the standing crops. The Cabinet, which met here on Saturday, approved the move and the government would consider extending the drought-hit status to a few more mandals in the second phase after receiving reports from district collectors post harvest, according to state information and public relations minister D K Aruna.

The Cabinet has also approved the month-long ‘Raccha Banda’, a village level mass contact programme through which the beneficiaries under various welfare progra-mmes will be selected. It also approved a proposal to allot 200 acre land to Nelcast Energy, a JV between Gayatri Projects and NCC Limited, which is planning to set up a 1,320-Mw super critical thermal power project in Nellore.