Fast effect: Centre announces relief of Rs400 crore for rain-hit Andhra Pradesh farmers

The Centre today announced a relief of Rs400 crore to provide succour to rain-hit farmers in Andhra Pradesh, a move aimed at countering the political fall-out of the fast undertaken by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader N Chandrababu Naidu and Jaganmohan Reddy who resigned from Congress.

A delegation comprising MPs from the state met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here in New Delhi today and apprised him of the losses incurred by farmers in various regions hit by cyclone and rains recently.

The delegation apprised him that the "unprecedented" rains had resulted in extensive damage to cotton crops and tobacco as also paddy.

"The prime minister announced an advance of Rs400 crore to be paid to the state government for immediate relief and assured the delegation that expeditious action would be taken on the reports of the central team and based on their assessement additional relief could be provided," a prime minister office (PMO) spokesperson said.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had also met the prime minister a few days ago and drew his attention to the plight of the farmers of the state.