📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Prime Minister's Office
Weather
Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu Sets Oct 1 Deadline to Declare Drought-Hit Mandals Due to El Nino Impact
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 21 Sep 2026, 04:34 AM
👁 8
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to identify and declare drought-affected mandals by October 1, citing the ongoing El Nino phenomenon affecting rainfall in the state.
The announcement was made during a review meeting where the chief minister emphasized the need for timely identification of areas suffering from moisture stress. He instructed revenue and agriculture officials to complete field surveys and submit their reports before the stipulated date.
The decision comes after meteorological agencies reported below-average rainfall in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, which experts link to the prevailing El Nino conditions affecting the monsoon pattern. The government aims to trigger relief measures such as input subsidies and crop insurance payouts once the mandals are officially notified as drought-hit.
Officials have been asked to use satellite data, rain gauge readings and ground-level observations to assess the situation accurately. The chief minister also urged coordination with district collectors to ensure that assistance reaches affected farmers without delay.
While the exact number of mandals likely to be declared drought-affected is not yet known, the administration has stated that all necessary steps will be taken to mitigate the impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods.
The decision comes after meteorological agencies reported below-average rainfall in several parts of Andhra Pradesh, which experts link to the prevailing El Nino conditions affecting the monsoon pattern. The government aims to trigger relief measures such as input subsidies and crop insurance payouts once the mandals are officially notified as drought-hit.
Officials have been asked to use satellite data, rain gauge readings and ground-level observations to assess the situation accurately. The chief minister also urged coordination with district collectors to ensure that assistance reaches affected farmers without delay.
While the exact number of mandals likely to be declared drought-affected is not yet known, the administration has stated that all necessary steps will be taken to mitigate the impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods.