BRS warns of a dharna at collector, add collector offices with soaked paddy

BRS working president KT Rama Rao urged the Telangana government to procure rain-damaged paddy and maize at MSP without deductions. He also demanded immediate compensation, restoration of power supply at procurement centres and support measures for farmers affected by unseasonal rains.

Karimnagar: Senior BRS leader and Karimnagar MLA Gangula Kamalakar on Wednesday warned of staging a dharna in front of the Collector and Additional Collector offices if the government failed to complete procurement within two days.

Kamalakar visited paddy procurement centres in Karimnagar rural and Kothapalli mandals to assess the situation after unseasonal rains lashed the erstwhile Karimnagar district on Tuesday night, soaking paddy and maize stocked at the centres. Accompanied by Civil Supplies officials, including the District Supply Officer and District Manager, he interacted with farmers at the PPC centres.
Alleging complete failure on the part of the State government, Kamalakar said such situations never arose during the BRS regime as every grain produced by farmers was procured well in advance. He assured farmers that arrangements would be made to immediately shift the crop to godowns.

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Speaking to the Additional Collector over phone, the MLA urged officials to expedite shifting of paddy to godowns, warning that farmers would suffer further losses if more rains occurred in the coming days. He said the BRS had already alerted the government after weather forecasts predicted unseasonal rains after May 5 and advised completion of procurement in advance. However, the government ignored the warning and failed to complete even 50 per cent of procurement in the district so far, he alleged.
Kamalakar said farmers were facing severe hardship due to shortages of gunny bags, hamalis, vehicles and thread at procurement centres. He also alleged that officials initially refused to procure soaked paddy on Wednesday and closed the centres citing moisture content issues. “Only after BRS leaders warned of staging protests by placing soaked paddy in front of the Collector’s and Additional Collector’s residences did the officials resume procurement,” he claimed.

In view of the shortage of transport vehicles and labourers, Kamalakar said tractors were arranged and farmers themselves were engaged to weigh the paddy. He maintained that it was the responsibility of officials to ensure unloading of the crop at rice mills. “If rice millers refuse to unload the paddy, officials should shift the stock to AMC and Rukmapur godowns,” he said.
The MLA demanded that the government procure even sprouted and discoloured paddy, stating that the present situation arose solely due to official negligence.