Hyderabad, November 16: TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that the FCI should relax norms and procure the paddy that had become discoloured due to the recent rains in the state.
A group of farmers from West Godavari district narrated their woes to the former chief minister here today. They said with the FCI, Civil Supplies Corporation and the IKP not coming forward to procure the discoloured paddy from them, they were forced to resort to distress sale at Rs 550 a bag.
Naidu criticised the Congress leaders for getting busy with sports, games and celebrations without going to the rescue of farmers affected by the recent rains. He found fault with the under assessment of the magnitude of the calamity that had struck the state. The state government had assessed that only five lakh tonne of paddy was damaged whereas 25 lakh tonne was affected, he said.
He wanted the state government to take steps for procurement of paddy from farmers and rescue them since the loss in monetary terms was Rs 1,000 crore in West and East Godavari districts alone.
–Agencies