CPI(M) demands ₹1 lakh crore special drought relief package for farmers in Andhra Pradesh

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CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao addressing the media in Vijayawada on Sunday. | Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

The CPI(M) has demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government declare drought-hit mandals and announce a special relief package for farmers, tenant farmers and agricultural labourers, as the State is slipping into a severe drought.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Sunday, CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said the drought situation worsened as the State failed to act despite warnings from meteorologists about severe El Niño conditions.

The Left parties visited drought-hit areas and brought to light the problems being faced by farmers, agricultural labourers and tenant farmers, he said.

He said as the organisations representing farmers, agricultural labourers and tenant farmers had given a call for protests from September 21, the government said that drought-hit mandals would be declared on October 1. The government should act immediately, instead of waiting for the situation to deteriorate further, he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao questioned whether Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan and HRD Minister N. Lokesh, who were travelling across the country to attract investments, did not have time to visit drought-hit areas and meet farmers facing distress.

The CPI(M) leader demanded that the Centre declare drought as a national disaster and provide a package of ₹1 lakh crore. Mr. Srinivasa Rao attributed the worsening environmental conditions to pollution and environmental degradation caused by large investors in pursuit of profits.

He also opposed the setting up of data centres in Visakhapatnam, saying they would require large quantities of water and electricity, and could further aggravate environmental and temperature-related problems. Permissions should not be granted to projects that damage environment without proper environmental impact assessment, he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said though crops had been sown in about 50 lakh acres, there was no prospect of getting yields even from 20 lakh acres. He demanded loan waiver, 200 days of employment under the MGNREGS and payment of wages of at least ₹310 a day, as fixed by the government.

He also demanded compensation of ₹50,000 to each tenant farmer family affected by the drought and establishment of fodder centres for livestock.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao demanded that house sites be allotted to all those who had applied for them, recalling the election promise to provide house sites to everyone.

He alleged that the government had earlier stopped transactions involving 12 lakh acres under Section 22-A on the ground that irregularities had taken place, but was now releasing large tracts of land from the restrictions and declaring them freehold.

He alleged that assigned lands had been encroached upon by influential persons and billionaires. Assigned land committees should be revived and the process of converting such lands into freehold property subjected to public scrutiny to ensure justice to the poor, he said.