Hyderabad: Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao on Thursday accused the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government of gross negligence in the procurement of paddy across the state. Speaking to the media after inspecting paddy procurement centres at Chintapally mandal in Nalgonda district and interacting with farmers, Rao highlighted several issues plaguing the process.
Allegations of Delays and Shortages
Rao pointed out that Nalgonda, a region known for extensive paddy cultivation, should have had advance arrangements based on agriculture department estimates. However, he alleged that procurement had been stalled for 25 days, with critical shortages of gunny bags, transport, and tarpaulins at IKP centres. Farmers were reportedly being charged hamali fees and forced to accept a four-kilo cut per bag, adding to their distress.
Rain-Damaged Crops and Demands
Drawing attention to rain-soaked, sprouting grain, Rao demanded immediate procurement of all paddy and warned officials against illegal collections. He emphasized that the government must take responsibility to prevent further losses for farmers.
This article is based on reporting by Sribala Vadlapatla, a Senior Assistant Editor with 15 years of experience at The Times of India and 30 years overall in mainstream and web journalism. She covers Telangana's political, economic, health, technological, and socio-cultural topics, with a deep interest in policy, governance, emerging technologies, international affairs, economy, and music.
