CPM leaders and activists laid siege to the district collectorate here on Saturday intensifying their fight on drought. They squatted on the road demanding that the government declare the district as drought hit and take up drought relief works on war footing.
Speaking on the occasion, party senior leader Cherupally Seetharamulu said the district was badly affected by the drought. “Lemon, orange (Bathai) orchards withered due to severe drought and 370 farmers committed suicide. The government gave ex gratia only to 63 families, he said and demanded that the government extend ex-gratia to the remaining families. He demanded that the government release Rs 10 crore each to every mandal to solve drinking and irrigation water problem.
Former MLA Julakanti Ranga Reddy said some 20 families from every village in the district migrated to other places due to lack of works in their villages. The fruit gardens and crops withered due to lack of water in the district. The drought teams and officials should inspect withered crop fields, he said and demanded that the government declare all mandals in the district as drought hit. (NSS)