Cloud-seeding operations to commence within 10 days Water to be released this week from projects to an ayacut of 4 lakh acres 7-hour power supply to be ensured to agriculture HYDERABAD: Appealing to the people not to panic over the dry spell prevailing in Andhra Pradesh, the government has announced a plan of action to combat the outcome of deficit rainfall. As part of the plan that was finalised by Ministers N. Raghuveera Reddy (Agriculture), P. Lakshmaiah (Major Irrigation) and Mohd. Ali Shabbir (Energy) after reviewing seasonal conditions at a meeting here on Thursday, water will be released this week from Vamsadhara, Jurala and Yeleru projects to an ayacut of 4 lakh acres. The meeting, mainly to deal with the negligible inflows into reservoirs, power cuts and poor kharif sowing, was attended by officials from the Agriculture, Irrigation, Energy and Disaster Management departments. Potable water At a press conference later, Mr. Reddy and Mr. Lakshmaiah said water would be provided immediately from irrigation projects for drinking purpose wherever required. Water would be released later for crops depending on inflows. Rain-Shadow Area Department and the CASWM have been directed to commence cloud-seeding operations within 10 days. The Ministers said regardless of the present shortage, seven-hour power supply would be ensured to agriculture sector at any cost, even if it meant further cuts to domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. Plans had been drawn up to purchase 2,376 million units of energy from outside sources during July-November, whatever the cost.