(a) whether the Andhra Pradesh would not get the food assistance under drought
relief assistance;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested to the Union
Government to sent a Central Team to study the situation in the State;
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard; and
(e) the time by which the final decision is likely to be taken by the Union
Government?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
(SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)
(a): The Central Government has recently allotted 1 lakh tones of rice at Below
Poverty Line (BPL) rates to the families in the drought affected areas.
(b): Does not arise.
(c) to (e): A Central Team had already visited the affected areas in the State
sometime back to assess the situation in the wake of drought. Taking all relevant
factors into account, the National Calamity Relief Committee had approved assistance
of Rs.75.36 crore from the National Fund for Calamity Relief in the wake of drought.
This amount was released to the State on 31.3.2000. This was in addition to the
allocation to the State for 1999-2000 under Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). For the year
2000-2001, Rs.77.78 crores have already been released in advance under CRF.