K Chandrasekhar Rao extends stay at farmhouse, parties cry foul

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s extended stay at his farmhouse in Erravelli on the city outskirts has led to delay in the announcement of drought-hit mandals in TS. As many as 210 mandals were identified as drought-hit and the list sent to the CM for approval last week. Mr Rao was supposed to hold a meeting last Monday to approve the list and forward it to the Centre seeking special financial assistance.

However, the CM left for his farmhouse last Sunday and stayed there for five days, leading to postponement of the meeting. Generally, Mr Rao spends two days at his farmhouse every weekend, and returns to the city on Monday. However, this time, he extended his stay and he returned to his camp office in Begumpet on Friday evening, after the Opposition raised a hue and cry. The Opposition alleged that Mr Rao “was confining himself to his farmhouse for days and weeks together, and not coming to his office in the Secretariat even twice a month, for the past six months”.

The declaration of drought mandals has already been delayed by over a month, since the kharif season ended on September 31. Last year too, the TS government had failed to declare the list of drought mandals though several mandals witnessed severe deficit rainfall. This year the severe drought conditions have resulted in a spate of suicide by farmers being reported.

The declaration of drought mandals will help secure special financial assistance from t he Centre, besides increased working days under MGNREGA and rescheduling of crop loans.

The reason being cited for CM’s extended stay at his farmhouse this week was that he was scouting for suitable 30-acre land to perform Aayutha Chandi Yagam in December. Mr Rao has already invited President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Yagam.

“We have never had a CM earlier who stayed away from Secretariat for weeks and months together. The CM barely visited the Secretariat six times during the last five months. Even while in city, he is confining himself to the Begumpet camp office. Several important files are pending at CMO for long due to his absence,” said Congress leader Shabbir Ali.

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