Release Rs 9,000 crore to complete Sitarama Project: Telangana Rythu Sangham

Telangana Rythu Sangham has urged the State government to release Rs 9,000 crore to complete the Sitarama Project. The farmers' body also sought resolution of pattadar passbook issues, timely maize procurement payments and free urea booking at Mee Seva centres.

Khammam: The State government must release Rs 9,000 crore funds required to complete Sitarama Project designed to irrigate seven lakh acres of land in the undivided Khammam district, demanded Telangana Rythu Sangham state president Pothineni Sudarshan Rao.

Speaking at the Rythu Sangham district committee meeting here on Thursday he noted that linking Godavari waters to the Palair reservoir offers the potential to supply water to 2.5 lakh acres of agricultural land within the Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut area.

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The project was crucial for supplying irrigation water to Enkoor, Kamepalli, Karepalli and other mandals in Khammam district. But the government was acting negligently in releasing the funds. It was essential to complete the project given the looming threat of severe rainfall deficiency, Sudarshan Rao said.

The sangham district secretary Bonthu Rambabu stated that issues regarding land pattadar passbooks remain unresolved following the transition from the ‘Dharani’ system to the ‘Bhu Bharati’ Act.

He pointed out that farmers have been facing immense mental anguish while making repeated rounds of tahsildar offices for years. Even minor errors present in the Dharani records were not being rectified under the Bhu Bharati Act.

Rambabu warned that the sangham would mobilise farmers and launch a movement if the issues concerning land pattadar passbooks were not resolved. The government should fully disburse the payments to farmers for the maize procured during the Rabi season.

He wanted steps taken to resolve technical issues affecting the urea app and insisted that urea booking at ‘Mee Seva’ centres be provided free of charge, without placing any financial burden on the farmers.

The sangham leaders Bandi Ramesh, SK Meera, Godavarthi Nageswara Rao, Bikkasani Gangadhar, Ravula Rajababu, Donthiboyina Nageswara Rao, Thota Venkata Reddy and others were present.