Rythu Sangham stages protest against meagre funds allocation for Sitarama project

Telangana Rythu Sangham workers staged a protest in Khammam against reduced funding for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project, demanding higher allocation, compensation for displaced families and immediate steps to ensure the project’s timely completion.

Khammam: Workers of the Telangana Rythu Sangham staged a protest against the meagre allocation of funds for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project.

The Sangham’s Kamepalli mandal committee and farmers took out a protest rally on Monday demanding compensation for those displaced by the project and funds required for its completion.

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Rythu Sangham district vice president Duggi Krishna noted that it was unacceptable that the government drastically reduced allocations for the agricultural sector, while a paltry sum of Rs 336 crore has been allocated specifically for the Sitarama project.

He demanded that the Congress government allocate Rs 11,000 crore for the speedy completion of the project, as per an estimation made during a high-level review meeting on irrigation. It was sad that the government, which allocated Rs 699 crore last year, reduced it to only Rs 336 crore.

Krishna argued that this disparity clearly demonstrated the government’s lack of sincerity regarding the completion of the project. He demanded that the budget proposals be revised to increase the allocation of funds and ensure the timely completion of the project.

Sangham leaders Nagabhushanam, Ambati Srinivas Reddy, B Srinivasa Rao, Rayala Satyanarayana, Sakinala Srinivasa Rao, along with Sitarama Project Evacuees Association leaders Shaik Sharif, Arja Ramesh, Gaddam Veeranna and others, took part in the protest.