BJP alleges power shortage has damaged crops across thousands of acres in Telangana
Hyderabad, Sept 30 (TNT): Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Wednesday alleged that irregular power supply and the Congress government’s failure to take preventive measures had resulted in crop damage across thousands of acres in Nalgonda district.
Speaking to the media after touring villages and inspecting damaged fields, Rao said farmers dependent on borewells were facing severe losses due to frequent power interruptions.
He said farmers in Kanagal and Nalgonda Rural mandals, including Chinna Madharam and other villages, were struggling to irrigate their fields.
While the government claimed to supply 12 to 15 hours of electricity, farmers were receiving only around five hours, with frequent interruptions, he alleged.
Rao criticised the Congress government for failing to implement a crop insurance scheme despite assurances made by party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during the Warangal Rythu Declaration meeting.
He alleged that the previous BRS government had also failed to implement the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and that the Congress government had continued the same approach.
Accusing the state government of failing to prepare for possible drought conditions, Rao demanded that it seek central assistance, arrange for a central team to assess crop damage and provide compensation to affected farmers.
He also called for greater awareness among farmers about alternative crops, dryland farming and diversified cultivation through Farmer Producer Organisations and agriculture officials.
On water management, Rao urged the government to ensure drinking water supplies to Hyderabad through the three phases of the Nagarjuna Sagar project. He also called for steps to secure water releases from upstream reservoirs, including Almatti and Narayanpur.
Claiming that Telangana should receive at least 500 TMC of Krishna river water out of the 811 TMC allocation, he alleged that the previous BRS government had agreed to only 299 TMC.
He criticised both the previous and present state governments over their handling of water-sharing issues.
Rao also raised concerns over Karnataka’s proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam and alleged diversion of Telangana’s allocated water through the Veligonda project.
He urged the state government to strongly present its case at upcoming Krishna River Management Board and Apex Council meetings.
The BJP leader said repairs and desilting of irrigation projects, including Nettempadu, Dindi and Kalwakurthy, could help address water shortages.
He also alleged that siltation had reduced the capacity of the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme from 15 TMC to five TMC.
Rao demanded that the state government release the Justice P.C. Ghose Commission report on alleged design and quality issues concerning the Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.
He also sought details of proposed repairs based on recommendations of the National Dam Safety Authority.
He further criticised the Congress government over power generation and coordination among power utilities, alleging that shortcomings in the utilisation of thermal, hydel and solar power had contributed to the situation.
Earlier, Rao interacted with farmers in Chinna Madharam, Torgal and Malladuppalapally villages after being welcomed by district BJP leaders and workers.
He later participated in the ‘Swachh Bharat and Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, organised to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 25 years as head of government, and took part in a cleanliness drive.
He urged BJP workers to promote community service and cleanliness.
Rao also visited the residence of Nalgonda district BJP president Nagam Varshit and met his mother, who was reportedly recovering from injuries sustained in an alleged attack by Congress workers last month.
He said the BJP would continue to raise farmers’ concerns and demand urgent measures to address the state’s water crisis.
TNT TS
