Replying to debate on drought conditions in the state, the revenue minister informed the assembly that sowing operations during the kharif crop season were taken up on four million hectares of land against the normal crop area of eight million hectares.

He denied the allegation by opposition parties that the government was refusing to recognise the existence of drought. 'Our government will not hesitate from taking up relief works just because we have not declared the state drought-hit,' he said.

Leader of Opposition and Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu wondered how the central government would render assistance to the state when the state government itself is refusing to recognise the existence of drought.

According to officials, the rainfall deficit is about 50 percent in the state. Only two of the 23 districts have received normal rainfall this season. About 80 percent of 1,128 mandals, or administrative units comprising six to seven villages each, have received deficit or scanty rainfall.

With the weather office predicting more rains over the next two days, authorities hope this would bring down the deficit and save the state from the worst drought in five decades.