YSRCP Questions Exclusion of All Nellore Mandals from Drought List

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has criticised the coalition government for not including even a single mandal from Nellore district among the drought-affected areas, despite what it described as prevailing drought conditions. Party leaders, led by Kakani Govardhan Reddy, submitted a representation to the district Collector on Monday, urging the authorities to reconsider the exclusion of Nellore mandals from the drought-affected list.

The delegation raised concerns over the manner in which the State government was presenting the drought situation during the visit of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The YSRCP alleged that the government was not placing the actual conditions faced by farmers before the Centre and was instead providing misleading information about the situation in the State.

The party also accused the coalition government of claiming credit for houses that were sanctioned and constructed during the previous government led by former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The YSRCP said several houses approved during 2021-22 were now being handed over to beneficiaries, while changes to colours and identification boards were allegedly being used to project them as schemes of the present government.

According to the party, the previous government had developed Jagananna Colonies, distributed house-site pattas and title deeds to poor families, and extended support for construction materials and bank loans. The YSRCP alleged that the present government was taking credit for housing projects despite not having contributed to their construction.

The party further criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, alleging that he failed to highlight the drought situation and the possible impact of El Niño during the Union Agriculture Minister’s visit. It claimed that the government had failed to ensure adequate irrigation water for the first crop in Nellore district.

The exclusion of all 35 mandals in Nellore from the drought list was described by the YSRCP as an injustice to farmers. Party leaders urged the Collector to assess the ground situation and include eligible mandals in the drought-affected category.

The Collector, according to the party, assured the delegation that the issue would be examined. Across Andhra Pradesh, the government has reportedly identified 388 mandals as drought-affected, including 283 under severe drought and 105 under normal drought categories. The YSRCP questioned why none of Nellore’s mandals were included despite the conditions it claims are prevailing in the district.