Drought-free AP in one year: Chandrababu

Vijayawada, June 19: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the government is taking all necessary steps to make the State drought-free within in a year. The CM convened a meeting with farmers here today. Chandrababu allayed the fears of farmers on Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project and assured that the project's first phase would be completed soon. The CM said that farmers agreed to give land for Polavaram Left Canal and added that the works will be started soon. The CM said that steps would be taken to address problems in exporting tobacco and promised all the help to tobacco farmers. Later, he left for Palamaneru in Chittoor district to take part in ‘Badi Pilustondi’ and ‘Neeru Chettu’ programmes. The CM reportedly stayed overnight in the bus on the premises of campus office in Vijayawada. Sources said that CM camp office works were still incomplete. Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and higher officials and farmers were present.