Farmers should avoid second crop, warns minister Ponguleti

Kusumanchi (Khammam): Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy urged farmers to remain cautious about the possible impact of El Nino and avoid taking up a second crop amid concerns over water availability and electricity shortages.

“The government is making every effort to protect the first crop already cultivated by farmers,” he said, appealing to them not to risk further losses by sowin: g a second crop without assured irrigation.

The minister was speaking at programmes during his visit to Kusumanchi mandal in Khammam district on Sunday, where he laid foundation stones for development works and inaugurated a newly constructed gram panchayat office.

Expressing concern over the prevailing power situation, Ponguleti said electricity shortages had become severe, with even supplies at Rs 15 per unit reportedly difficult to secure in the market. “Electricity that was earlier available at around Rs 7 to Rs 8 per unit had become increasingly difficult to procure,” he said.

With groundwater levels declining, the minister directed officials to formulate advance plans to prevent drinking water shortages in the coming months. He stressed the need for precautionary measures to address the possible impact of water scarcity on rural communities.

Ponguleti said the effects of El Nino were being felt across southern states. “A delegation of ministers, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, would visit New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and Union ministers to explain the state’s situation and seek additional financial assistance through a special package,” he said.

“The state would also request the Centre to provide additional workdays in villages under the G RAM G scheme to support rural livelihoods,” the minister added.

During his visit, Ponguleti laid the foundation stone for a BT road between Mangali Thanda and Dubba Thanda, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.63 crore with ITDA funds. He also launched works for an overhead water tank and pipeline network at Jujjularaopet at a cost of Rs 45 lakh. He inaugurated the new gram panchayat office building at Mangali Thanda, constructed at a cost of Rs 20 lakh.

The minister also visited Hatiya Thanda and consoled the family of Bashu, father of former MPTC member Badavath Veeranna, who had recently died.

District Collector TS Divakara, Congress mandal president Bajjuri Venkata Reddy, district vice-presidents M.D. Hafeezuddin and Jukuri Gopala Rao, sarpanches and other Congress leaders attended the programmes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PV Satyanarayana

PV Satyanarayana[email protected]

P.V.Satyanarayana is a journalist with an experience of 20years. PV Satyanarayans has completed his post-graduation in MSc (Mathematics) from Allahabad University. Interested in writing *Feature Stories and political stories Hobbies: Reading Newspapers and listening to songs.

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