Govt committed to welfare of farmers, says Eatala

18% of State Budget allocated to agri sector

Karimnagar: Finance Minister Eatala Rajender said that unlike the previous Congress government, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government was committed to the welfare of farmers. He pointed out that 18 per cent of budgetary allocations in the recent State budget were made to the agriculture sector. Speaking to reporters at the R and B Guest House here on Friday, the Finance Minister made the observations while reacting to the comments made by Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy that the ruling TRS government was trying to betray all sections especially the farming community.

It may be recalled that the TPCC chief alleged that the government was trying to avoid compensation for lands to be acquired for laying the water grid pipeline. Terming the previous Congress government’s Jalayagnam as Danayagnam, he said the TRS government has taken up water grid programme with a sacred motto to provide drinking water to very house in the State. The Finance Minister expressed government’s willingness to accept opposition parties’ objections if there was any constructive criticism.

It was not proper on the part of Congress leaders to make baseless allegations to gain political mileage, he said. Talking about the damage caused to crops due to the recent gales and hailstorms, he promised to pay compensation to the affected farmers. It was the TRS government which cleared Rs 480 crore pending input subsidy, he informed and blamed the Congress for not clearing the dues. The government is also contemplating to enhance the input subsidy amount, he informed.