It is really unfortunate that Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, and his Government do not have even basic knowledge on the prevailing drought situation in the State and the plight of the farmers, said former MLA and senior TDP leader, Dhulipala Narendra, on Thursday.
Though the farmers did not cultivate lakhs of acres in the State this year there is absolutely no response from the State Government, Narendra told media persons here. Pointing out that the TDP government had taken come for the rescue of the farmers several times whenever there was drought conditions in the State, Narendra said this Government has totally neglected the farming sector. “In fact, the farming sector is almost dead in the State,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister has no basic knowledge with regard to farming and how to act towards the farmers while the Minister for Agriculture is totally scared of coming out with facts with regard to his portfolio, he said. While severe drought conditions are prevailing in 470 mandals, the Government has simply announced 103 mandals and washed off its hands, he felt.
Also, except declaring the drought-hit mandals through GO-4, no steps have been taken to release funds to overcome the situation nor to save the farming community, Narendra maintained. Though several villages are reeling under severe drought conditions and the people are migrating in search of livelihood, there is no response at all from the State Government and the Chief Minister, Dhulipala said.
The Chief Minister is not feeling ashamed of the remarks made by the ruling party leaders of the neighbouring State of Telangana that grain is not being purchased in the State, he said. When will the State submit reports to the Centre on the drought condition and when the relief will be released to bail out the farmers, he asked.
Did the State Government ever conduct any kind of review meetings on the prevailing drought situation in the State, Narendra said and advised the Chief Minister to focus on supplying irrigation water to the fields. Though the Centre has released Rs 500 cr under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), in July why not even a single rupee is released by the State for providing drinking water facility or to save the standing crops, Narendra asked.
Stating the the farmers wing of the TDP which met recently under the leadership of the president of the State unit of TDP, Atchen Naidu, has taken a decision to visit the drought-hit areas, Narendra said that the party leaders will personally meet all the affected farmers. “The TDP will move ahead with an action plan to personally meet the farmers and take the prevailing situation to the notice of the State Government. We will also take the help of the Jana Sena in this regard,” Narendra maintained.
