Surveys only to divert attention, says Congress
Cyclone damage less than crop loss
KARIMNAGAR: Karimnagar DCC president K. Mrutyunjayam said the crop loss due to drought conditions in Telangana state was more than the devastation caused by cyclone Hudhud in Visakhapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
He was addressing a mediapersons here on Sunday. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is announcing new schemes and opting to conduct new surveys only to divert people’s attention from his inefficiency. He asked the government to carry out a survey on the crop loss.
On farmers’ suicides, the Congress leader said ryots were ending life due to the irresponsible statements being made by Mr Rao and his ministers. “Neither the CM nor his Cabinet are trying to boos the morale of the farmers. They had failed to create an opinion that the government was trying to do something for them.”
Farmers would have abstained from cultivation if the government had expressed its inability to supply power in July. “Now, the CM says power shortage can be overcome only after three years. This means he cannot prevent farmers’ suicides,” the Congress leader said.
The DCC chief demanded the government to declare crop holiday if it cannot provide sufficient power to the agriculture sector.
Congress to fight for compensation to farmers:
Buoyed by the response to protests against erratic power supply to the farming community, the Congress party district unit has decided to lead protests seeking compensation to farmers, who had suffered heavy loss in kharif season.
According to sources, the party would demand the government to deploy officials to assess crop damage and extend financial support to the farmers.
The Congress men staged dharnas at all collectorates in various district headquarters in the state opposing interrupted and inadequate power supply to the agriculture sector which were joined by local farmers in the last few days and this boosted the morale of the party leaders.
Now, the party leaders have decided to fight for compensation to the farmers who suffered loss. “We would intensify our protests in support of farmers. Dharnas will be staged across Karimnagar district. Farmers are reeling under severe crisis due to deficit rainfall and interrupted power supply,” said DCC president K. Mrityunjayam.
According to rough estimates received by the party leaders, farmers will not be able to get more than 15 quintals of paddy per acre, as against the usual 30 quintals in normal conditions. The dip in yield can be attributed to scanty rainfall and insufficient power supply.
Meanwhile, standing crops such as cotton, maize and red gram are getting withered due to poor rainfall. “Firstly, we will press the government to estimate the loss and then ask for compensation to farmers hit by the drought conditions,” said a party leader.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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