Government insensitive to problems of Rayalaseema

​Anantapur: HMTV's flagship programme 'Dasa-Disa' aimed at focusing the problems of people in the district and to draw the attention of the State government felt that the government was being insensitive to the problems of Rayalaseema and the drought conditions that were prevailing in the district.

Leaders of all political parties, farmers, intellectuals and common people who took keen interest in the debate and discussions felt that though the State government was getting funds for drought mitigation, it was diverting them for other purposes.

• Speakers allege that the State government is diverting funds for drought mitigation to other purposes
• IT Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy assures that the Handri-Neeva project will be completed by August-end and will help irrigate 1 lakh acres of agriculture lands in the district apart from filling 1,262 irrigation tanks

Participating in the debate, Mallikarjun a farmer from Yellanuru mandal bemoaned that years of drought had landed his family into debts and he had to dispose off their agriculture lands for a song to tide over the problems. He maintained that the district is not really as pathetic as it is made out to be but is it is the political leaders who are suffering from the drought of sincerity and commitment to the district. Another farmer spoke about the problem of migration due to farm distress.

Earlier, a youth's emotional criticism of communist parties triggered heated arguments and pandemonium for some time. Angry communist party sympathisers tried to attack the speaker. The timely intervention of leaders of all political parties saved the situation from taking an ugly turn.

Two women widowed by the suicide of their husbands lamented that no help came from the government. Many were critical of the BJP government for not including the groundnut crop in Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Responding to it, BJP leader Vishnuvardhan said that the Centre constituted a committee to take a favourable decision but it would be applicable only in the next fiscal.

Another participant Jagadish was critical of the BJP government for involving private insurance companies in the crop insurance. Almost all the political parties were unanimous in their demand to make the insurance applicable to even groundnut crop in the 2016-17 year itself.

Responding to the criticism of the people and the Opposition parties for the delay in the execution of Handri-Neeva project, on behalf of the State government, IT Minister Palle Raghunatha Reddy assured that the Handri-Neeva project would be completed by August-end.

He said that the project would help fill 1,262 village tanks and recharge groundwater to a large extent. He said Rs 460 crore had been allocated in the budget and more would be released to facilitate completion within the scheduled time.

The first phase of project would irrigate 1 lakh acres of agriculture lands in the district apart from filling 1,262 irrigation tanks, he said. The Minister also assured on behalf of the State government that all issues raised by the people and political parties would be attended to any cost.

Mayor Swaroopa, former MP Anantha Venkataram Reddy, Uravakonda YSRCP MLA Visveswara Reddy, BJP leaders Vishnuvardhan Reddy and Ankal Reddy, CPI district secretary Jagadesh, CPI(M) district secretary Ram Bhoopal, Congress leader Ramana, Chamber of Commerce president Seshanjaneyulu and MLC Geyanand also participated in the discussion. The programme was anchored by P Venkata Krishna, Chief Editor (Debates and Discussions) HMTV.