Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu Announces Drought Relief Measures and Sets 7.92% Progress Target for

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu warned that Andhra Pradesh recorded a 69 % rainfall deficit in July and that El Niño is likely to keep rainfall 35‑40 % below normal for the next three months. The shortfall threatens up to 2.78 lakh hectares of cotton and 1.07 lakh hectares of paddy, especially in West Godavari, Prakasam, Annamayya, Krishna and YSR Kadapa districts. Naidu ordered the creation of an El Niño control room, expanded use of Vamsadhara river water, borewell irrigation in 122 high‑risk mandals, and an awareness campaign to shift farmers from water‑intensive paddy to crops such as red gram, castor and black gram. He stressed full enrollment in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Weather‑Based Crop Insurance Scheme, extending the enrolment deadline to 15 August, and directed that district collectors be held accountable for any uninsured crops.

In a separate meeting, Naidu set a minimum monthly progress benchmark of 7.92 % for 95 ongoing infrastructure projects in the Amaravati capital region, worth Rs 50,999 crore. He urged contractors to prioritize speed, quality and delivery, streamline land acquisition, fund mobilisation, statutory clearances and design approvals, and incorporate green cover and urban plantation. The chief minister pledged personal monitoring of physical progress and assured uninterrupted funding to avoid administrative delays.