CPI team examines drought conditions in villages

Wanaparthy: Severedrought conditions were observed during a visit by a CPI team to Anjanagiri, Dattayipalli and Dattayipalli thanda in Wanaparthy mandal. Bala Narasimha, a member of the CPI State secretariat, demanded immediate relief to support farm labour in the district.

He pointed out that authorities failed to fulfil their promise to provide water to Anjanagiri from the Kasimnagar Lift Irrigation scheme. As farmers were forced to rely solely on borewells, approximately 100 acres of paddy withered away. For instance, a farmer, Pedda Devanna, had planted paddy on four acres; the crop could have been saved with just two more rounds of irrigation, but the borewell ran dry, leading to loss of crop.

Another farmer had prepared his field for planting, but by the next day, the borewell had dried up. Many others suffered heavy losses after spending as much as Rs. 1.6 lakh to drill borewells, only to find no water. In Dattayipalli and Dattayipalli thanda, 80% paddy crops have dried up.

Farmers, who had taken on debt to fund the cultivation, are deeply anxious about how they will repay their loans given the total failure of crops. They planted crops relying on the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation canal, but lack of water caused crops to wither. A severe shortage of drinking water has emerged, affecting livestock, sheep and the local population. Distress is evident in every farmer whose crops dried up.

The party demanded each family be provided with Rs 15,000 a month until June. “The government should offer compensation of Rs 30,000/acre for lost crops and waive all agri loans. Fifteen kg rice per person should be distributed to the poor through ration shops,” said the leaders.

The demands include expanding the employment guarantee scheme to provide 200 days of work, with a daily wage of Rs 600. To protect livestock, free fodder should be supplied; dedicated fodder distribution centres should be established.

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The Hans India