Congress MLC Ponduleti Sudhakara Reddy on Wednesday urged Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to direct the officials concerned to release water from Nagarjuna Sagar Project (Left Canal) to Khammam zone II and save the standing crops.
In a letter addressed to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday, the Congress leader stated severe drought was prevailing in the State, especially in Zone II in Khammam district. Due to shortfall in rains, the standing crops were withering. Farmers in Khammam district have cultivated paddy, cotton, chilli, maize and other crops in over 2.5 lakh acres during the season. At this juncture, if water is not given, the farmers will suffer heavy losses and they might take to extreme steps. Besides, the State government and banks were not waiving existing farm loans and not renewing new loans to them. Under the circumstances, the government should rise to the occasion and evince special interest and waive the crop loans, he stated.
Ponguleti also urged the Chief Minister to arrange release of water immediately to Nagarjuna Sagar Left Canal to Khammam Zone II and save the standing crops. He also urged KCR to provide financial assistance to small and tenant farmers, who are at the dire straits. (NSS)