BRS blames power outages for withering paddy crops in Palamuru

BRS leader Singireddy Niranjan Reddy blamed power outages for withering paddy crops in Peddagudem Thanda and demanded a State-wide crop-loss assessment and compensation. He also criticised the government’s handling of electricity supply, irrigation pumps and water diversion.

Wanaparthy: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has blamed Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s inefficiency and lack of foresight for the hardships faced by farmers, particularly in his home district of Palamuru, where paddy crops are withering due to frequent power outages.

Former Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Monday inspected withered paddy crops belonging to tribal farmers at Peddagudem Thanda. Farmers, including Roopla Naik, Desha Naik, Chandu Naik and Dudya Naik, expressed their distress over the crop losses.

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Tribal farmers, including women, said they had invested around Rs 25,000 per acre, but their efforts were going in vain as the crops dried up due to an unreliable power supply. They blamed the government for failing to ensure uninterrupted electricity for irrigation.

Speaking on the occasion, Niranjan Reddy said the crisis was not a natural drought but one caused by the Congress government’s failures. He demanded a State-wide assessment of crop losses and compensation for affected farmers, pointing out that 2.5 crore people in Telangana depended directly or indirectly on agriculture.

He assured the farmers that the BRS would stand by them and fight for compensation.

“In Peddagudem Thanda alone, paddy crops across 150 acres have completely withered. The crops dried up because the fields could not be irrigated due to an unreliable power supply,” he said.

Niranjan Reddy said crop losses ranging from 100 to 500 acres had been reported in villages, leaving farmers in distress despite the availability of water.

Criticising the Chief Minister’s handling of the power situation, the former Minister said Revanth Reddy lacked a basic understanding of power supply and was making unsubstantiated claims about coal shortages.

He pointed out that around 70 TMC of water was available in the Srisailam project, yet the pumps supplying water to the Palamuru and Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation schemes were not being operated. He attributed the problem to poor maintenance, which had led to frequent pump breakdowns and repairs.

Niranjan Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister and his Ministers were running the government without foresight or a clear strategy.

“Revanth Reddy allowed River Godavari and Krishna waters diversion into Andhra Pradesh. About 100 TMC of Krishna water had been diverted to the neighbouring State,” he added.