TG BJP president N. Ramchander Rao talks to rain-affected farmers in Nalgonda district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: ARRANGEMENT
BJP’s Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao has demanded the government to take steps to purchase the rain-affected paddy from farmers immediately, and accused it of negligence regarding establishment of procurement centres.
On Friday, Mr. Rao was interacting with farmers of Nalgonda and Suryapet, who expressed distress about their paddy crop drenched by heavy rains and about the alleged failure of government in establishing procurement centers on time, resulting in their hard work being washed away.
The BJP leader charged the Congress leaders of colluding with rice millers to delay the procurement of farmers’ paddy after inspecting the procurement centres in Nakrekal, Chityala and Chivemla to personally assess the problems faced by farmers and check the situation at market yards.
Mr. Rao stated that many procurement centres lack essential facilities such as tarpaulins, moisture-drying machines and storage facilities causing much hardship to the small and marginal farmers. He questioned why the procurement process is tardy when the Centre pays for all the expenses including transport, gunny bag and porter charges, besides providing commissions to the civil supplies department.
Even the interest on any bank loan taken by the government for procurement is borne by the Centre, he reminded. The party has sent three teams to various districts to understand the crop loss situation across the state and the problems faced by farmers at the procurement centres, he said.
Enhance compensation
In a separate press conference, legislature party leader A. Maheshwar Reddy said that the government should give compensation of ₹30,000 an acre and ex gratia payment of ₹30 lakh for those who lost their lives due to the cyclone. About five lakh acres of agricultural land and 2.8 lakh farmers got affected, he claimed.
Farmers’ associations have also raised concerns about the government’s response and calling for the release of a White Paper detailing the extent of crop damage and financial assistance provided by the government since the Congress came to power, added Mr. Reddy.
Published – October 31, 2025 09:24 pm IST
