Naidu urged to act with swiftness to tackle drought condition

HYDERABAD, APRIL 1: A Marxist leader today implored Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to use internet and act with same sw...

HYDERABAD, APRIL 1: A Marxist leader today implored Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to use internet and act with same swiftness to alleviate sufferings of the common man because of acute drought conditions in the state, "as was done to present a driving license on internet to US President Bill Clinton during his recent visit here".

Participating in the special discussion on drought in some parts of the state in the Legislative Assembly, CPI-M floor leader N Narsimhaiah wondered why the State Government is "slow and slack in mitigating the misery of the people caused by drought in some parts of the state, while it managed to present the driving license to Clinton in a jiffy over the internet".

"The much-hyped uses of the hi-tech such as internet should percolate to the common man also", he said and deplored that "nothing was being done to know the problems of the poor farmers in the drought prone mandals or evolve a redressal mechanism".

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The issue of acute drought conditions in 610 out of 1,110 mandals in the state came up for a special debate today in the wake of demand from members cutting across party lines.

A senior Congress legislator T Jeevan Reddy, who initiated the debate earlier, said he was "upset" since the much-hyped visit of Clinton did not help the state in any way, be it drought or drinking water scarcity. The Chief Minister intervened to tell the member that it was not expected of the US President to come here with money. "I am sorry if you (Reddy) had such a notion," he said.