Hyderabad, March 19: T. Harish Rao, a senior leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), has urged the Telangana government to extend financial aid to farmers grappling with substantial losses caused by untimely rains.
Rao, a former minister, emphasized the urgent need for the government to offer compensation of Rs. 10,000 per acre to farmers who suffered crop damage due to adverse weather conditions. He highlighted districts such as Adilabad, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Medak, Siddipet, and Rangareddy, where hailstorms accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc on crops.
Expressing empathy for farmers whose crops were on the verge of harvest, only to be devastated by the untimely natural calamity, Rao underscored the significant losses incurred, particularly to crops like paddy, maize, sorghum, papaya, and mango.
Rao drew attention to the historical precedent set by Chief Minister KCR, who personally visited affected farmers in the past, providing immediate relief in the form of Rs. 10,000 per acre compensation. However, he lamented the current lack of response from the government towards the recent crisis.
Critiquing the Congress-led government for its purported neglect of farmers, Rao urged prompt action and assistance to alleviate the plight of those affected.
In addition to demanding swift assessment of crop damage and the subsequent disbursal of compensation, Rao cited a Government Order from April last year, which allocated Rs. 151.56 crore for compensation to farmers impacted by thunder and hailstorms in 26 districts between March 17 and March 21, 2023. This initiative aided approximately 1.31 lakh farmers, each receiving Rs. 10,000 in compensation.
