Bangalore, August 04: The likelihood of the state slipping into a complete drought-like situation with the failure of the monsoon, increase in the prices of tur dal and the dissidence in political parties in the state have been the focus of most vernacular dailies in Andhra Pradesh in the past fortnight.
Two Telugu dailies – Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy – have published detailed reports on the deteriorating conditions of the rural areas. “Farmers from some villages in the state have started migrating to urban parts in search of work. It’s been almost two months and the state has not witnessed sufficient rainfall,” Eenadu reported.
Andhra Jyothy, in one of its reports last week, said, “The rainfall in the state was 49% less than normal and about 974 mandals in the state have slipped into a drought-like situation.” The daily also reported that the state is likely to witness a 4-hour power cut from August 15 onwards since the hydro generation has been falling due to the shortage of inflows in some key reservoirs.
The rise in the price of tur dal to Rs90 a kg has given rise tounrest among consumers. Traders, however, are blaming the price rise on the failure of crops due to the monsoon. Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy have been reporting on how traders have been hoarding tur dal in warehouses in Chennai. The government denied the allegations.
Telugu daily, Sakshi, has been focusing more on the positive developments in the state including the promises made by the government on controlling the price rise and assured power supply to farmers.
Sakshi also focused on the dissidence in the other political parties including Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, Chiranjeevi-led PRP and Telangana separatist party, TRS. WhileTDP leaders have been writing to Naidu on the need to revive the party structure, Chiranjeevi has been losing key party members to other parties.
There is a vertical split in the TRS leadership with over a dozen senior party leaders walking away from TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao and demanding a new leadership. Meanwhile, Medak TRS MP and former actor Vijayashanti is rumoured to be eyeing the Congress.
–Agencies