Use rain guns to save crops: Chandrababu Naidu

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials toutilise rain guns technology to protect crops in low rainfall areas. Addressing a review meeting at the secretariat here on Monday on the progress of works taken up under MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), he said that the dry spell mitigation is important.

He instructed the officials to protect the standing crops by providing water facility. The officials should provide water at least for one wetting for dry crops using rain guns wherever necessary. Drones should be used for spraying pesticides to protect the crops.

The Chief Minister said the officials should complete the works by setting weekly targets. CC roads, Anganwadi buildings and construction of compound walls for schools should be taken up in panchayats.

He directed the school education officials to give priority to develop nutri-gardens in schools and asked the officials to come out with an action plan to use NREGS funds. He said a report should be prepared on the prevailing drought conditions in nearly 55 mandals to be submitted to the Central government and instructed the officials to distribute tractors, sprayers and tarpaulins to farmers as part of modernisation of agriculture.

The Chief Minister said that the water availability in the state in reservoirs, tanks and groundwater stands at 645 tmcft to date and there is an increase of 161.80 tmc of water this year compared to last year. He said 806.80 tmcft of water is available at present in the state. The Chief Minister directed the officials to fill the farm ponds and use rain guns wherever necessary to protect the standing crops in deficit rainfall areas.