Political parties, farmers associations allege inconsistencies in drought-hit mandals list in erstwhile Khammam

Farmers’ groups and political parties in erstwhile Khammam district have alleged inconsistencies in Telangana’s drought-hit mandals list and sought the inclusion of more mandals. They have also demanded crop-loss surveys and compensation for farmers affected by drought.

Khammam: In the wake of the Congress government’s recent announcement of drought-hit mandals in Telangana, farmers’ associations here have alleged that there are several inconsistencies in the list of affected mandals in the erstwhile Khammam district.

The BRS, CPI, CPI (M) and Telangana Rythu Sangham, which alleged that the government had failed to come out with a contingency plan to offer succour to farmers, have demanded the inclusion of several mandals in Khammam and Kothagudem districts in the drought-hit list.

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It may be noted that, of the 21 mandals in Khammam district, the government declared 10 mandals severely affected and seven moderately affected by drought. In Kothagudem district, of the 23 mandals, four faced severe drought conditions, while 12 were moderately affected.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Telangana Rythu Sangham district secretary Bonthu Rambabu said the government had limited itself to merely declaring the mandals drought-hit. An urgent, war-footing survey of crop losses in the affected mandals should be carried out to provide compensation to farmers, he said.

He demanded compensation of Rs 30,000 per acre for lands left uncultivated due to the impact of El Niño, as well as Rs 50,000 per acre for commercial crops that were planted but subsequently withered. The compensation should cover the period up to the end of the Kharif season, he said.

The political parties and farmers’ associations wanted Wyra, Chintakani, Tirumalayapalem and Tallada mandals in Khammam district to be included in the list of drought-affected mandals. CPI (M) leaders alleged that four mandals in Madhira constituency, represented by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, had been declared drought-hit while Chintakani mandal was deliberately excluded.

Similarly, there were demands to declare Sujatha Nagar, Gundala, Aswaraopet, Tekulapalli, Julurpad and Yellandu mandals in Kothagudem district drought-affected. It was not right to declare mandals drought-hit based solely on the rainfall recorded at the mandal headquarters, said AIKMS leader T Nageswara Rao.