MP Bandaru Dattatreya has criticised the TRS government

Former Union Minister and Secunderabad MP Bandaru Dattatreya has criticised the TRS government for not responding promptly to farmers in distress by releasing compensation for the loss of crops due to the recent gales and hailstorm.

Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, after visiting Krishnajiwadi village in the mandal where the maize crop was badly affected, he said that it was unfortunate that neither the agriculture officers nor local MLA nor any other elected representative had gone around villages where crop loss was heavy. It showed their gross negligence towards agriculture, farmers and their welfare, he said, demanding the government initiate steps immediately to assess the loss and release compensation. Gales and hailstorm caused enormous loss to various crops in Nizamabad, Kamareddy, Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam.

Mr. Dattatreya said that maize crop had been ruined in 30,000 acres and in Kamareddy, the crop was damaged in 5,000 acres. Since the crop was lost before it could be harvested, even the investment could not be realised, he said. Appealing to the authorities to visit villages where crops were destroyed, he added that farmers were in deep crisis with increasing debt following the failure of borewells. The former Union Minister said that maize farmers were disappointed as they were getting only ?1,100 per quintal though MSP was announced at 1,425.

The BJP district president B. Laxma Reddy and Muralidhar Goud were present.