Bandi Sanjay Slams State’s Selection of Drought-Hit Mandals

Karimnagar: Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the State government’s selection of drought-affected mandals, alleging that several areas facing severe rainfall deficits had been left out of the list.

In a Statement, On Wednesday, He said the selection appeared arbitrary, pointing out that even mandals recording a 35 per cent rainfall deficit had not been included. He alleged that the Karimnagar parliamentary constituency had been treated unfairly despite drought-like conditions in several areas.

Bandi Sanjay questioned whether the government had overlooked the situation in mandals across Husnabad, Vemulawada, Sircilla, Manakondur, Choppadandi and Huzurabad constituencies, where fields had reportedly remained barren and residents were facing drinking water shortages. He said the ground situation could be assessed by interacting directly with farmers.

The minister sought clarity on the criteria and official data used to identify drought-affected mandals. He asked whether rainfall, cropped area, crop conditions, soil moisture, groundwater levels and reports of crop losses had been assessed separately for every mandal using uniform standards across the State.

He also demanded that the government make the data public, including rainfall deficits and agricultural conditions in each mandal. Complaints from farmers in villages and mandals excluded from the list should be reviewed, and eligible areas should be added if the assessment showed they qualified, he said.

Bandi Sanjay urged the government to identify drought-hit areas based on ground realities rather than political considerations and provide eligible farmers with relief. He also called for full employment opportunities for the poor, warning that injustice to farmers and vulnerable sections would have serious consequences.

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The Hans India