Tenant farmers play in dry fields

Attili (West Godavari): Andhra Pradesh Koulu Rythu Sangham (APKRS) State vice-president K Srinivas has expressed concern over the non-availability of water to rabi crop in West Godavari district and said the tenant farmers are left with option of committing suicide if water is not supplied to their fields.

The APKRS protested against the government’s apathy towards farmers in a unique way by playing cricket in the vacant fields in Attili. The APKRS team inspected the dried lands on Saturday. They observed the withering paddy crop due to lack of water. The team toured Attili, Bontuvaripalem, Paluru, Uradallaalem, Eduru, Manchili and Skinnerapuram villages.

The APKRS state vice-president, Srinivas, speaking on the occasion, said such a drastic situation of water scarcity was never witnessed by the farmers in Godavari delta over two decades. The lifting of water from Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme was the main cause for the water scarcity, he alleged and added that the Government had lifted the water against the GO. He demanded release of water in alternative means.

CITU district leaders Keta Gopalan, PV Prathap, APKRS leaders S Sriu, Bokka Visweswara Rao, B China Veerabadram, Bonthu Venkateswara Rao and others participated in the tour.