SIDDIPET: Gaiwel farmers are angry over bank issuing notices to them to pay crop loans. The government earlier waived the crop loans of farmers, but Pragnapur Grameena Vikas Bank has issued notices to 574 farmers asking each of them to pay `2.40 lakh. Protesting the bank’s move, farmers and leaders held the dharna in front of the bank. They said other Grameena Vikas Banks in the district have waived crops loans, but Pragnapur Grameena Vikas Bank in the CM K Chandrashekar Rao’s Gajwel constituency has not applied the same.
Most of the farmers who received bank notices are oustees from the villages to be submerged in Konda Pochamma reservoir. The farmers said the bank issued notices eyeing the compensation they received after surrendering their lands. The farmers are from Thanedarpally, Akkaram, Teegul, Pragnapur and other villages. TDP Rytu Vibhagam President V Pratap Reddy said when the government waived the loans, the banks rescheduled the loans to all farmers and additionally provided financial assistance of `1 lakh to every farmer. However, this bank has not waived `1 lakh loan and added `40,000 as interest and also added `1 lakh it provided after rescheduling the loan and issued notices to pay a total of `2.40 lakh. He added when the situation is such in the CM’s constituency, the situation in other areas cannot be imagined.
Farmers from various villages participated in the dharna and later they met RDO Vijayender Reddy to express their protest.
The RDO said if the bank officials made any mistake, he will see that justice is done and assured to resolve the problem after talking to Agriculture officials. With the assurance of the RDO, the farmers withdrew from the dharna.