KCR govt blind to unprecedented drought

When people spend too much money, we say “they spend money like water.” This idiom holds more than true for the pitiful plight of our Telangana at present, where despite any amount of money spent, there isn’t enough water for its people.

• No measures on a war-footing to mitigate rural distress
• No threat, yet govt is busy with political machination

Post-bifurcation, Telangana remains the second wealthiest State in the country. However, the four subsequent crop seasons present a different picture marked by huge losses.

Telangana is hit by the fangs of an unprecedented drought at the moment and the entire State is gripped in its agony, yet the government has time and again put up a façade of false pride and stature hesitating to represent or report to the Centre, thereby depriving the State of the funds it deserved for tackling the dire situation.

Despite the representation last year, the State has not received funds and thus could not mitigate the sufferings of the people. The dance of destruction resumes in the State and in my seven decades of life, I have never witnessed either a devastating drought as this one or an indifferent and negligent government as the one we have right now.

Leave alone taking up drought relief measures, it is dreadful to note that the government has even failed to take at least regular measures. It is strange to find out that the government remains unconcerned even while its people are deprived of basic drinking water and have to put up with trips several miles long just to quench their thirst.

It is unfortunate to have a government that protects its own political interests and makes moves to further only its own existence, but doesn’t take any measures nor pays any heed towards the welfare of its people.

When a Chief Minister who enjoys the highest degree of protection and preventative measures is himself hit by a heat stroke and had to take rest at his well-equipped farmhouse, how can the farm labourers, the cart-pullers, the daily-wage labour, infants and women survive such a drastic heat? Wish he introspected this as the Chief Minister. However, no reviews have been done on the present drought situation.

The issues that needed addressing on a war-footing were in fact paid a deaf ear. Constantly engaged in power politics – the fact that it tried to politically gain from the death of an MLA from Khammam district, when in fact it was meant to address its drought-hit denizens shows how unfortunate the people in the State are.

Even as the neighbouring States of Maharashtra and Karnataka call for fetching drinking water in trains, our beloved Chief Minister convenes an urgent meeting at his farm house to select Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao overnight as his party candidate.

As of now, the Palair by-election is not a politically crucial issue for TRS and whether or not they get an additional seat, it wouldn’t put the government in jeopardy. In view of elections, a plenary is being called up in Khammam and permissions are sought.

It makes one wonder how preposterous this government’s activities are. It reminds me of a Telugu idiom that goes something like “While one was crying over their burnt up house, the other was lamenting over his cigar that he couldn’t light.”

I am really falling short of words to describe KCR’s keenness to boost his political influence when the entire State is gripped by the vicious tentacles of drought. The policy-makers should recognise that if an in-depth analysis of this deplorable situation is not done and any type of drought-prevention measures are not taken, then it would certainly lead to many more problems for our people.

Measures on a war-footing, temporary measures and long-term measures need to be taken as appropriate, failing which, the problems would become more complicated and the damage would be irreversible.

The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), an act that saves lives of drought-hit labourers, is rendered futile by this government right from the beginning. Consequently, mass-migrations are on the rise. Here I would like to share my personal experience.

In the year 2002, when I was an MLA, I visited Ramannagudem village in my very own Jangaon constituency only to realise that just a handful of men I could meet over a village development function. My observation revealed that all its inhabitants were forced to leave the village due to the severe drought. An in-depth survey in my constituency revealed that around 12,000 families have left their villages.

The then CLP leader Y S Rajasekhara Reddy demanded a discussion in the Assembly on drought and migration which subsequently led to implementation of measures that could reduce migration and help the drought-hit people to some extent.

Later, when the UPA government came to power, it enacted a historic law to prevent migration and guarantee employment to everyone who is in need and who demands. At present, both the Centre and the State are negligent in implementing the employment guarantee programme.

The fact that around 12 lakh labourers have been waiting for two months for their wages explains the regressive situation we are in. Imagine how deplorable the situation is and how faulty the government is when the law states that the wages should be paid within 15 days and still there is an overdue of over Rs 500 crore to be paid in arrears even in this unprecedented situation.

These rulers have enhanced the work days to 150 from 100 days, creating a buzz for themselves making people believe them. However, they couldn’t provide work for at least 50 days making regular migrations the order of the day. In the past, KCR had mentioned that in the new State, the word migration would never be heard, yet migration is regularly reported in the daily newspapers today.

The drinking water crisis in the State is so severe that even Narsannapeta, a village adopted by the Chief Minister to develop it into an ideal village, is constantly witnessing demonstrations by villagers on the drinking water problems. The situation is so bad that about 780 villages of his district, Medak, require transportation of drinking water only by tankers.

While the required average daily water consumption is 40 litres (Mission Bhagiratha promises 100 litres per day), at present the figures reveal just 15 litres per day. The situation in the case of availability of fodder and drinking water for cattle in the State is very pathetic. In this context, earnest measures are the need of the hour, lest we should have another Latur in our State.

In order to prevent drinking water trade, the potable water bore wells and the agricultural bore wells must be taken over by the government throughout the State. Water must be supplied by Panchayats. Measures must be taken for the construction of tubs for providing drinking water to cattle in all villages.

Dry fodder must be imported from Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh and should be made available on subsidy. Fodder centers and water tubs must be made available together at one place for every village as was done in similar circumstances by the previous government.

In addition to implementation of the employee guarantee programme, the outstanding arrears of over Rs 500 crore must be cleared right away. The Centre must be persuaded to release funds which must be put to proper use in implementation of drought relief measures. Earlier models for drought-relief funds must be emulated to avoid further delay.

Any political intervention must be avoided to ensure effective and earliest release of funds. Loan waiver assurance under the present pathetic conditions when implemented (releasing immediately – third and fourth phase land disbursements) will boost the morale of farmers. Bankers must be persuaded and pressured to come to the rescue of the farmers with fresh crop loans as required.

The government should take up all measures to save the farming community, failing which it is very possible for the State to be drought-struck. Putting aside short-term political interests, the government must come to the rescue of Telangana people. (The writer is former TPCC President and former minister)

Dance of drought & death

• Water table at rock bottom in wells, water resources
• Other States arranging water transport etc, but TRS govt refuses to take cognisance of situation
• Mass migrations due to crop losses, loss of livelihood
• Scant attention to rural employment guarantee scheme
• Widespread deaths of cattle due lack of water, fodder
• No action on loan waiver front, which will provide some solace
• No initiative to prevail upon bankers to extend fresh loans
• Short-term interests come in way of rescuing the drought-hit

By Ponnala Lakshmaiah