BJP's Ramchander Rao flags irrigation water crisis for farmers in Telangana
State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao raised alarm over irrigation water shortages in the Godavari basin, Kalwakurthy and Jurala command areas, alleging government neglect of farmers.
State BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Tuesday voiced concern over an acute shortage of irrigation water in the Godavari basin, the Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the command areas of the Jurala Project, saying thousands of cultivators were being driven into distress.
Mr. Rao was speaking to the media after police detained him at Jadcherla while he was attempting to visit the Jurala project site.
He accused the Congress government of ignoring farmers' interests, calling it unfair to withhold irrigation water after crops had already been sown and had partially germinated, and without giving farmers adequate warning of a possible scarcity.
The BJP leader criticised the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministers for their silence amid mounting anxiety among farmers. Responding to the government's contention that water was being conserved for drinking needs, he claimed reservoirs such as Narayanpur and Almatti were holding substantial water, and alleged the government was playing politics rather than addressing farmers' requirements.
According to Mr. Rao, the discontent extends beyond the Jurala ayacut. Farmers growing turmeric, cotton, paddy and maize in areas dependent on the Nagarjunasagar and Godavari irrigation systems were also worried about water availability, he said.
He further alleged that the government was trying to suppress dissent, claiming that opposition leaders and farmers raising legitimate concerns were facing arrests and restrictions.
Mr. Rao also accused the government of not delivering on its promise of a crop insurance scheme better than the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, as envisaged in the Congress party's Warangal Farmer Declaration.
Turning to land acquisition, he highlighted the grievances of farmers who had lost land for the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Kalwakurthy lift irrigation projects. He demanded enhanced compensation, arguing that the proposed ₹15 lakh per acre was inadequate for lands with borewells, open wells and fruit-bearing trees.