Farmers accuse RTO officials of demanding money for water tankers

Farmers in Tupatrala village of Jogulamba Gadwal district have accused RTO officials of demanding money to allow water tankers to irrigate standing crops. A tenant farmer alleged that officials sought Rs 5,000 per tanker after initially demanding higher penalties.

Jogulamba Gadwal: Farmers in Tupatrala village of Ieeja mandal have accused local Transport Department officials of demanding Rs 5,000 to allow them to use water tankers to save their standing crops. The farmers, who have already invested heavily in cultivation this season, said the officials’ demands had added to their difficulties as they struggled to protect their crops from water shortages.

Manikyam, a tenant farmer from the village, alleged that two Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials noticed water tankers in his fields. He said he explained to them that the tankers were being used to save his standing chilli crop. However, the officials insisted on payment, claiming that the tankers were being operated illegally. He made these allegations in a video circulating on social media.

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The incident reportedly took place on Monday evening but came to light on Tuesday.

“Initially, they said I would have to pay Rs 1.50 lakh as a fine. When I requested them to consider our difficult situation, they demanded Rs 10,000 for each tanker. After repeated requests, they finally asked for Rs 5,000 each,” Manikyam alleged. He said his attempts to dig two borewells to a depth of more than 450 feet had failed.

Another farmer, Mahender Goud, also accused RTO officials of demanding money to allow the use of water tankers to save crops.

Reacting to the farmers’ complaints, BRS Jogulamba Gadwal district coordinator Kuruva Pallaiah criticised the Congress government over the hardships faced by farmers in the State.

“Is this what ‘people’s governance’ (Praja Palana) means, extorting bribes from farmers?” he asked. Pallaiah alleged that the officials showed no mercy despite farmers pleading with them and falling at their feet. He further alleged that the officials insisted on payment and forcibly collected Rs 5,000 from each farmer.

“We demand that the District Collector take strict action against the officials who extorted money from farmers,” Pallaiah said.