Even as unseasonal rain continued to lash parts of Telangana for the fifth consecutive day, politicians of different hues rushed to extend their sympathies to the affected farmers. While two delegations of the BJP leaders led by the Union Ministers visited Nalgonda and Karimnagar districts, State Ministers and MlAs of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti also visited the devastated fields in parts of Karimnagar district on Wednesday.
Another delegation of Congress leaders was also seen touring the Nalgonda district.
Powerful hailstorms accompanied by heavy rain continued to hit Adilabad district in Telangana for yet another day leaving several low-lying areas under water. The winds were so powerful that electricity poles and trees were uprooted disrupting the power supply in Adilabad town and surrounding areas. Standing crops, especially the mango crop, suffered extensive damage in several mandals of the district.
State Ministers T Harish Rao, K Taraka Rama Rao and E Rajinder visited Jagatiyal mandal of Karimnagar district and heard the woes of the farmers. Union Minister for Parliamentary affairs M Venkaiah Naidu, who visited Pochampally, Bibinagar and Bhongir mandals of Nalgonda district, assured the affected farmers of every possible assistance in overcoming the losses. Minister of State for Agriculture, Mohan Kundaria, and State BJP president G Kishan Reddy also accompanied them.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that compensation will be paid to every farmer whose 30% crop has been damaged,” Venkaiah Naidu said. He also assured the farmers that the Musi River will be cleansed and drinking water will be supplied to the people. “If needed, the Government will seek World Bank’s assistance for the purpose,” he added.
Union Minister of State, Bandaru Dattatreya, who visited Karimnagar district, told the reporters that crop over an area of 1,00,000 hectares was damaged by the unseasonal rain and hailstorms. “In Karimnagar district alone, the crop on 20,000 hectares was damaged,” he said. “Farmers are distressed as their ready to harvest crops have been damaged,” he said.
State Minister for Finance, E Rajinder and Minister for Panchayat Raj T Taraka Rama Rao also met Dattatreya at Chalgal village of Jagatiyal and drew his attention to the loopholes in crop insurance scheme. Meanwhile, a delegation of Congress leaders, led by the Pradesh Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy and the Congress legislature K Jana Reddy, also visited the affected areas and met the farmers. They assured the farmers to fight on their behalf and force the government to pay them the compensation at the earliest.