Political rivalry after polls: Alarming rise in cases of hacking of green orchards

More than 4000 banana plants of a single orchard in Turakavaripalle in Tadimarri mandal in Satya Sai district were set on fire by rival political gangs.

This was the second crop in the harvesting stage for 40-45 tonnes of bananas that could have fetched `8 lakh for the cultivators. Huge damage was caused to the drip irrigation network too.

Farmer Srinivasulu Naidu had raised the banana orchard in 3.70 acres of his land two years ago and first crop was harvested and the second crop was ready.

The political rivals set fire to the banana crop in the wee hours of Saturday. The entire orchard turned into ashes.

The police registered a case based on a complaint from farmer Srinivasulu Naidu and launched a hunt to nab the culprits. The suspects worked for the opposition party.

Horticulture official Ramanjineyulu said a report over loss of the crop was sent to the higher authorities.

In another incident, about 155 sweet orange trees of YSRC leaders Prathap Reddy and Konda Reddy were hacked by political rivals in Mylasamudram village in Kothacheruvu mandal of Satya Sai district in the wee hours on Saturday.

About 45 sweet orange plants were at the harvesting stage while the remaining 110 trees were two-and-a-half years old and were getting ready to give the yield. The farmers lamented the hacking of trees that had been protected with ground water sources even during rain-deficit conditions last year.

In another incident, rivals stole the starters from the orchard of a local leader Narasimha Reddy in the same village. Police registered a case.

Hacking of green orchards had been done in the past too and the trend was revived after the present polls. Farmers sought stringent action against the culprits.