Pawan Kalyan Promises Action Plan to Resolve Issues of Coconut Farmers in Konaseema
Pawan Kalyan said the issues would be examined within 45 days, and an action plan would be unveiled after the Sankranti festival
Konaseema (Andhra Pradesh): Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan has assured coconut farmers that the government would resolve the issue of crop loss or damage due to surge of seawater through the drains of Sankaraguptam and Kesanapalli.
“We would come up with an action plan in 45 days and start its implementation after the Sankranti festival,” he said.
The Deputy CM visited the damaged coconut plantations at Kesavadasupalem in Razole Assembly segment in the BR Konaseema district on Wednesday.
Pawan enquired with district officials about the reasons for damage to the coconut plantations. He also sought details of the Sankaraguptam drain as to how long it was existing when the problem cropped up, and whether there were any encroachments.
He also discussed with the scientists on how to save the damaged coconut plantations.
Later, the Deputy CM met the villagers of 13 habitations, who suffered damage or loss to their crops, and enquired about their problems.
Pawan said, “When I visited Konaseema region earlier, the intensity of Sankaraguptam drain was not so severe. I thought of getting the issue resolved after arranging a comprehensive study. We have to find out whether we can revive the damaged coconut trees. In case new saplings are planted, how much time does it take for the crop to become ready for harvest? If so, how can we help the farmers to eke out a living during the interim period.”
He said that, according to an estimate, a sum of Rs 4,000 crore was required to modernise the drains and irrigation canals in the erstwhile East Godavari district. Repair works to the Sankaraguptam drain on a war-footing would require Rs 20.62 crore.
The Deputy CM said the drain originally spread over a width of 50 metres, got this space reduced to just three metres in some areas due to encroachments.
In some places, the flow of water was getting obstructed by illegal erection of hurdles. This, he said, was resulting in a surge of seawater during high tide. Seawater was thus entering the fields, affecting the coconut plantations and hurting the livelihood of the local villagers.
Pawan criticised the previous state government for its “failure” to take up desiltation of the Sankaraguptam drain. The YSRC government did not even fill up the potholes on roads and “ruined” the state’s financial capability, he said.
He expressed concern over the way the lush green coconut plantations were damaged in the Konaseema region.
Pawan said an acre of coconut plantation would fetch a Rs 2 lakh income to the farmer. “As farmers need to get income on a regular basis, we would try and resolve the Sankaraguptam drain issue on a permanent basis,” he said.
The Deputy CM called for a detailed study on irrigation expert BC Rosaiah’s report on the drains in Konaseema area and directed the officials to come up with a comprehensive report in two weeks’ time.
He promised to organise another meeting with the farmers in the second week of December.
Pawan asked officials to submit a report on the immediate measures to be taken to provide relief to the coconut farmers. “This would be submitted to the state cabinet. Given the severity of the problem, we would also bring the issue to the notice of the chief minister.”
He proposed the formation of a special committee to explore the ways and means to resolve the issue.
Pawan also said he would pursue the call to set up a coconut board in Konaseema. There exist only a regional office for the coconut board. “We would take up the issue with the central government, as coconut plantations are being raised in several lakhs of acres in Konaseema region,” he said.
