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Hyderabad, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N.54 Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the State Government pay
compensation to farmers who lost their crops due to unseasonal rains.
Congress leaders including AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, former union minister S. Jaipal Reddy, MLAs D.K. Aruna, G. Chinna Reddy, Vamshichand Reddy and A. Sampath Kumar, TPCC Vice-President Dr. Mallu Ravi, Kisan Congress chairman Kodanda Reddy and others visited Udithyal, Nandaram and Gunded villages of Balanagar mandal in Jedcherla constituency of Mahabubnagar district on Sunday. They interacted with the affected farmers and reviewed the damaged cotton, maize and other crops.
Speaking to media persons later, Uttam Kumar Reddy said cotton was grown on nearly 48 lakh acres across Telangana this year. However, cotton crops spread over lakhs of acres were damaged due to heavy rains. Similarly, maize crop, which was grown on about 12 lakh acres, also suffered damage. He alleged that the TRS Government did not even react to the damages which badly hit thousands of farmers across the State. Further, he said as against the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 4,320 per quintal, cotton farmers are being forced to sell their produce for a mere Rs. 2,700 per quintal. Likewise, as against the MSP of Rs. 1,425, maize is being purchased for not more than Rs. 800 per quintal. He said this was being done in active connivance between the officials of State Government and middlemen. He urged that the farmers be paid MSP for their produce.
Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that the State Government pay compensation of Rs. 25,000 per acre to the affected cotton farmers. He also demanded compensation of Rs. 10,000 per acre for maize farmers. He said unseasonal rains have also damaged paddy crops on thousands of acres. Therefore, he demanded that compensation of Rs. 15,000 per acre be paid to the affected paddy farmers.
The TPCC chief also slammed the BJP Government at the Centre and TRS Government in Telangana for non-payment of insurance claims to affected farmers. He said about 7.20 lakh farmers have paid premiums under crop insurance schemes. However, not a single farmers has got any insurance amount so far. Similarly, he said farmers have paid over Rs. 1500 crore towards insurance premium last year. They too got no compensation despite suffering huge losses due to natural calamities. He said BJP and TRS Governments have completely neglected the farm sector and their indifferent attitude has been deepening the crisis for farmers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said farmers would teach a fitting lesson to both TRS and BJP in next elections.
