KTR Accuses Telangana Government Of Ignoring Crop Losses In Palamuru

BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has accused the Telangana government of failing to address crop losses in the erstwhile Palamuru district, claiming that more than 40% of crops have been damaged due to water shortages. He demanded an immediate crop-loss survey and compensation for affected farmers.

KTR visited Desh Ittikyal village in Nagarkurnool mandal while returning to Hyderabad from Kollapur. He inspected cotton and maize fields and interacted with farmers about their problems.

According to KTR, farmers told him that their crops had dried up completely, leaving them unable to recover even their cultivation expenses. Cotton farmers said the crop had dried and changed colour, with little possibility of getting even Rs 4,000 per quintal.

KTR said farmers had stopped his vehicle on the road and requested him to visit their village and raise their concerns with the government. He said he responded to their request and personally inspected the affected fields.

He cited the case of farmer Shekhar Reddy, who reportedly borrowed Rs 2 lakh to cultivate maize on two acres. KTR said farmers told him that despite recent rains making some fields appear green, the crops had already suffered significant damage. He said farmers such as Shekhar Reddy, Lakshmaiah and Yadamma were facing the same difficulties as many others in the region.

KTR attributed the crop losses largely to lack of irrigation water. He alleged that although water was available in the Krishna and Godavari rivers, farmers were not receiving adequate supplies. He claimed around 248 TMC of water was available this year, but the Kalwakurthy and Palamuru-Rangareddy projects were not being operated to their full capacity.

He also referred to weather experts' warnings about the possible impact of El Niño and said the government should have conserved available water, filled tanks and supplied irrigation through canals.

Farmers also complained about power supply disruptions, KTR said. They reportedly receive only single-phase power after 7 pm in some areas, while three-phase supply is also frequently interrupted, affecting the operation of agricultural motors.

KTR recalled that the previous BRS government had provided irrigation to around 8 to 8.5 lakh acres through projects including Jurala, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Koilsagar and Palamuru-Rangareddy. He also claimed that check dams and tank-filling measures helped improve groundwater levels.

KTR demanded a survey of every acre affected by crop loss and adequate compensation, particularly for farmers who borrowed money or pledged gold for cultivation. He said the BRS would meet agriculture officials and the Agriculture Minister to seek a special package and would continue pressuring the government until compensation was provided to affected farmers.