YS Jagan Questions Government Inaction As Andhra Pradesh Faces Rainfall Deficit

YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has criticised the state government over what he described as a failure to recognise and address the worsening drought-like conditions across Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking at a media conference in Tadepalli on Wednesday, Jagan said the state had recorded a 52 per cent rainfall deficit since June. Of the state's 688 mandals, he claimed 628 were facing deficient rainfall, with conditions remaining worrying across both Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Jagan said the prolonged dry spell was already affecting agricultural activity, with paddy nurseries drying up in several areas. He questioned why the government had not taken timely steps to distribute alternative crop seeds to farmers who may be forced to shift cultivation because of inadequate rainfall.

He alleged that the possibility of an El Niño impact had been known, but the government failed to undertake adequate advance planning. Jagan also accused ministers of concentrating on publicity activities instead of responding to farmers' problems.

He further criticised the government for discontinuing the free crop insurance scheme introduced during the previous YSRCP administration, claiming that farmers had been left more exposed to crop losses and financial uncertainty.

Jagan also expressed concern over power generation from the Srisailam reservoir by Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He warned that if generation continued at the current pace, the reservoir's water level could fall to 854 feet within three weeks.

Such a decline, he said, could create serious problems for drinking and irrigation water supplies in Rayalaseema. He also alleged that construction of pump houses under Telangana's Mahatma Gandhi Lift Irrigation Scheme was progressing rapidly, while the Andhra Pradesh government was failing to take sufficient action to protect the state's interests.

Jagan also questioned the government's silence over allegations of irregularities in the DSC recruitment process raised by the YSRCP.

He accused the government of giving greater priority to political criticism of the opposition than resolving public issues. Jagan demanded immediate distribution of alternative crop seeds and urgent measures to provide relief and protection to farmers facing the effects of the rainfall deficit.