Opposition parties walk out from the Assembly, in protest against the government's failure in providing relief to drought-hit.
On Sunday, the major Opposition parties staged a walk-out from the Legislative Assembly, in protest against the failure of the state government in providing relief to the drought-hit farmers in the state.
Members of the Telugu Desam Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the CPI and the CPM staged a walk-out while accusing the government of not giving a convincing reply to the questions on relief measures taken up for distressed farmers in drought-hit areas.
Earlier, participating in the debate on AP's drought situation in the Assembly on Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who also holds the Agriculture portfolio, refuted allegations that the government has ignored the welfare of farmers.
He said that the government has provided quality seeds and fertilisers to farmers, with a subsidy of 33% to 50%. He said that Andhra Pradesh ranks first in the country in farm loans.
The government has spent about Rs. 900 crore to give loans to 95 lakh farmers, he added.
However, he also admitted that farmers in 865 mandals across the state have been facing problems due to severe drought.
Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy disclosed that 71 farmers have committed suicide due to the drought. He said that efforts are being made to provide assistance to the affected farmers, including providing local employment in order to prevent migration.
He said that about Rs. 6,521 crore would be spent to provide relief to the farmers affected by drought and cyclone, under the Climate Relief Fund.
In his 35-minute long speech, Ch. Muthyam Reddy of the Congress listed out the steps taken by the government for farmers' welfare.
He said that while the Congress government took measures to directly help the farmers, the Telugu Desam Party has confined itself to criticism through the media. He remarked that the Opposition parties should have advised the government in tackling the drought situation.
TRS MLA T Harish Rao said that the entire Telangana region is in the grip of severe drought. He also accused the government of completely ignoring farmers of Telangana in terms of providing power, loans, seeds, fertilisers, subsidies and other benefits.
He also accused the Agriculture Department of favouring private companies from the Andhra region against the interest of sugarcane farmers from Telangana.
TDP MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao alleged that Warangal district has been completely ignored. He accused the government of turning a blind eye to the exploitation of farmers in the Telangana region, especially in Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts.
He demanded that the government pay ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the families of farmers who have committed suicide, and also that the government provide a subsidy on diesel used for farm generators.
J Ranga Reddy of CPM said that the severity of AP's drought could have been averted. He pointed that nearly 4,000 TMC of water is being wasted, and that about 75,000 small and large water bodies have been lying in a state of neglect.
He said that proper storage of water could have minimised the impact of drought in several districts.
R Chandrasekhar Reddy (TDP) said that the Congress government is focused towards politics than on governance. CPI MLA Sambasiva Rao alleged that the government is not serious towards farmers' welfare.
MLAs R Raghunath Reddy, Narender Kumar, P Keshava, S Ramesh Rathod, Hanumanth Shinde, Praveen Reddy, Seethavati, Shaik Mastan Vali, Srisailam Goud and others participated in the debate. (INN)