Revanth Slams Centre For Not Procuring Harvest Produce

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday criticised the Central government for limiting itself to announcing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops without coming forward to procure the harvested produce, thereby imposing a severe financial burden on the state government. He said the Telangana government was procuring paddy, maize and jowar at MSP with its own funds despite non-cooperation from the Centre.

During a meeting with a delegation of the CPM at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister discussed issues relating to foodgrain procurement, the progress of the Musi river rejuvenation project and reforms being undertaken in the education sector to provide quality education to poorer sections.

Revanth Reddy alleged that, except for announcing MSPs for crops, the Centre was doing nothing in the procurement of paddy, maize and other produce. Appealing to Left party leaders to fight against the Centre on the issue of procurement, he said the Union government was not procuring even 30 per cent of the harvested crops and that it was only the state government which was purchasing every grain cultivated by farmers.

The Chief Minister informed the delegation that the shortage of hamalis (loaders) due to elections in West Bengal had delayed paddy procurement during April and May. He also said prevailing heatwave conditions had affected procurement operations, forcing procurement centres to halt activities during afternoon hours.

Stating that he was continuously reviewing procurement operations, Revanth Reddy said the state government was already providing a `500 bonus per quintal for fine variety paddy in addition to MSP for maize in order to provide relief to farmers.

The Chief Minister also briefed the CPM leaders on the relief and rehabilitation measures being extended to families displaced under the Musi Rejuvenation Project. He said the government was sanctioning houses for those displaced and added that the Musi project would transform the riverfront into a world-class tourist destination while creating large-scale employment opportunities for local youth.

Taking strong exception to attempts by the opposition BRS and BJP to politicise the Musi project, the Chief Minister said people of Nalgonda district were becoming victims of increasing pollution in the Musi river. “My objective is to provide a quality life to the citizens of Hyderabad city,” he said.

The meeting also discussed recent initiatives taken by the state government to strengthen the education system. Revanth Reddy said the entire education sector was being overhauled with the objective of delivering quality education to poor students. He said initiatives such as providing nutritious breakfast and mid-day meals and the establishment of Telangana Public Schools formed part of the government’s education reforms. The Chief Minister also suggested that CPM leaders visit the Telangana Public School being constructed at Arutla on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The CPM delegation, led by State Secretary John Wesley, expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for enhancing minimum wages for workers under the Minimum Wages Act with effect from June 1. Former MLA Julakanti Rangareddy and Rajya Sabha member Vem Narender Reddy were also present at the meeting.