Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has alleged that the current state government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has exacerbated drought conditions in the state through administrative negligence. In a press release issued on Thursday, Reddy claimed that the government failed to take timely action despite early warnings regarding the El Nino weather pattern.
Reddy stated that the state has experienced a rainfall deficit of more than 51 percent from the start of the Kharif season through September 16. According to his assessment, 628 of the state’s 688 mandals are facing drought-like conditions, with 332 of those experiencing severe drought. He noted that out of a normal Kharif cultivation area of 76 lakh acres, approximately 20 lakh acres remain unsown.
The opposition leader accused the government of failing to declare drought-hit mandals, provide alternative seeds, or secure additional workdays from the central government. He further alleged that the administration prioritized power generation at the Srisailam Project over water supply to the Rayalaseema region and criticized the government’s handling of the Polavaram Project and water disputes with neighboring Telangana.
To address the crisis, Reddy demanded that the government immediately declare drought-hit mandals, reschedule agricultural loans, and restore free crop insurance. He called for compensation of 15,000 rupees per acre for unsown land and 25,000 rupees per acre for damaged crops, alongside 6,000 crore rupees in input subsidies. Additionally, he requested the release of pending payments under the Annadata Sukhibhava welfare scheme and the provision of subsidized water tankers for farmers.
Reddy has directed YSRCP leaders to visit affected areas to document farmer grievances and pressure the government for relief. He indicated that he may personally tour the impacted regions. There has been no immediate response from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regarding these allegations.
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