Telangana seeks Rs 117.76 crore NDRF aid for Cyclone Montha-hit farmers

Telangana has requested Rs 117.76 crore from the Centre under the National Disaster Response Fund to provide input subsidies to farmers affected by Cyclone Montha. The cyclone destroyed crops on 1.18 lakh acres, impacting over 1.22 lakh farmers across 27 districts

Hyderabad: State has sought Rs 117.76 crore in immediate financial assistance from the central government under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide input subsidies to farmers affected by Cyclone Montha. As per the final assessment, standing crops in approximately 1.18 lakh acres across 27 districts were destroyed impacting 1,22,242 farmers. The State has requested an Inter-Ministerial Team from the Centre to visit the affected areas and assess the ground reality.

The State government had completed 100 per cent enumeration of the crop losses. Most affected crops include paddy (83,407 acres), cotton (30,144 acres), and maize (2,097 acres), with the highest damage reported in districts like Nagarkurnool (23,580 acres), Warangal (19,736 acres), and Karimnagar (11,473 acres).

---

Khammam district emerged as the worst-hit with 21,408 acres damaged, followed by Jagtial (11,557 acres), Karimnagar (11,473 acres), Hanmakonda (11,310 acres), and Nalgonda (9,259 acres). The Telangana government has announced Rs 10,000 per acre as immediate relief. The State-funded package alone will cost approximately Rs 117.75 crore.

Not a single rupee has been released by the Centre even for last year’s flood damages. As per NDRF norms, Telangana is eligible for: Rs 7,285 per acre (irrigated crops), Rs 6,880 per acre (rain-fed crops), Rs 9,106 per acre (perennial crops) and Rs 3,440 per acre (horticulture crops).

Officials claimed that 100% enumeration was completed and the final data was uploaded on the Central portal. Telangana has assured farmers to provide Rs 10,000 per acre from its own funds.