YSRCP's Sailajanath blames government for drought crisis, seeks farmer relief

YSR Congress Party leader Sake Sailajanath on Friday criticised the government for what he described as inadequate action on severe drought conditions affecting farmers across the State.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Sailajanath said the administration was attributing the crisis to El Niño rather than putting in place a contingency plan. He claimed the State had recorded a rainfall deficit of 54% to 56%, which had hit rain-fed crops hard, especially groundnut, cotton and pulses in Rayalaseema.

Although farmers were advised to switch to alternative crops, seeds for groundnut and red gram were not supplied, he alleged.

The YSRCP leader said about 3,500 acres of paddy dependent on the Nellore barrage was on the verge of drying up for want of water. He also alleged that water was not being released to Rayalaseema projects even though the Srisailam reservoir was full.

Mr. Sailajanath demanded full per-acre compensation for drought losses, the restoration of free crop insurance and reimbursement of premiums already paid by farmers. He sought ₹7 lakh compensation for the families of farmers who died by suicide over the past two years due to debt-related distress.

He further called for nine hours of uninterrupted daytime power, free tanker water for drying citrus orchards and free fodder for livestock, alleging that a fodder shortage was forcing farmers to sell their cattle.

Criticising the government's emphasis on Amaravati and investments, he said, "Data centres cannot provide food."