Harish Rao targets Congress govt over delay in paddy procurement

BRS leader T. Harish Rao criticised the Telangana government over delays in paddy procurement, alleging negligence and farmer distress. He cited irregular deductions, delayed payments and poor infrastructure, urging immediate action to deploy transport, gunny bags and streamline procurement operations.

Hyderabad: BRS deputy floor leader T Harish Rao flayed the State government for its utter negligence in paddy procurement and failing to protect distressed farmers waiting at procurement centres across Telangana. He said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was showing no compassion towards distressed farmers.

During his visit to the paddy procurement centre at Choutuppal Agricultural Market in Yadadri Bhongir district on Thursday, Harish Rao interacted with farmers who alleged that their produce had not been purchased even after several weeks and officials were deducting large quantities of paddy in the name of husk and moisture quality checks.

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Inspecting heaps of paddy damaged by unseasonal rains, Harish Rao said farmers were being forced to wait for days under extreme summer conditions. Referring to recent deaths of farmers near procurement centres, he said the government’s incompetence had pushed cultivators into severe distress.

He reminded that during the previous BRS regime, such conditions had never existed in procurement centres. He said farmers under the present Congress government were facing problems at every stage, including Rythu Bandhu assistance, seed and fertiliser supply, irrigation, electricity and sale of produce.

Targeting Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, the senior BRS leader challenged the Minister to step out of air-conditioned rooms and witness the ground reality at procurement centres. He said a woman farmer at the market brought her paddy 24 days ago and was still awaiting for the weighing process despite moisture clearance being completed eight days ago.

Harish Rao said the officials were taking nearly four weeks, leading to delay in procurement process at every stage, including moisture testing, supply of gunny bags, weighing, transportation and milling. He observed that while the authorities were deducting 2-3 kg per bag (quintal) towards in the name of husk and moisture, another four to five bags per truckload was being deducted upon reaching rice mills.

“The Chief Minister who once warned against deductions must now explain why such cuts are continuing,” he remarked.

Harish Rao also criticised the government for celebrating “Rythu Bharosa Week” while allegedly failing to ensure procurement and fertiliser supply. He accused the government of imposing restrictions on urea sales to vegetable and oil palm farmers and alleged that payments to maize and sunflower farmers were still pending for months.

Referring to recent farmer deaths linked to unseasonal rains and procurement delays in different districts, Harish Rao demanded that the government immediately send sufficient lorries and gunny bags to market yards and issue strict directions to millers to speed up procurement operations on a war footing.