Substantial drop in quantity feared
Farmers who depend on borewells are the worst hit, since they are getting power for only two to three hours a day, even as officials claim that the power supply is for four hours
Khammam: Farmers of Khammam district are reeling this kharif season on two counts — the dry spell and inadequate supply of power to the farm sector. Crops like paddy, maize, cotton and chilli are drying up due to lack of water. Farmers who depend on borewells are the worst hit, since they are getting power for only two to three hours a day, even as officials claim that the power supply is for four hours.
Farmers in as many as 15 mandals have been relying on borewells as there is no major water source. Agitation by farmers in front of Transco stations are a daily sight, especially in Julurpad, Karepalli, Kamepalli, Bonakal, Tallada, Enkoor, Paloncha and Mulakalapally, and Chandrogonda mandals. Paddy in Painampalli, Arempula, Timmakkapet, Bachodu, Patharlapadu and Subledu under Tirumalayapalem mandal which depend on borewells, is getting dried up.
P. Narender, a farmers’ leader from Tirumalayapalem mandal, said that farmers had sown paddy in 5,000 acres in the mandal depending on the borewells to water the crop. “The crop is drying up due to the fact that farmers cannot even switch on their borewells,” he said, pointing out that farmers who started kharif cultivation a month late are losing hopes of any good yield.
A Transco official said that Cyclone Hudhud has added to the woes since power being supplied from the Simhadri power plant has been stopped.The situation would continue for at least a fortnight, he said. P. Rama Rao, an agricultural official, said that yield will not be an encouraging one in the district this year. He said that the insufficient power supply is hitting the crops in the extent of over 32,000 acres in 15 mandals.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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