HYDERABAD: A discussion on the drought situation prevailing in the state led to heated arguments between members of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi and opposition on the floor of the Assembly Sunday. At one stage, Congress senior member T Jeevan Reddy rushing to agriculture minister P Srinivas Reddy making angry remarks.
Later Congress members staged a walkout, alleging that the state government has failed to come to support the farmers, who are struggling to survive the drought which has affected their livelihood. Meanwhile, the ruling TRS took objection to the behaviour of Jeevan Reddy, who rushed to Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, speaking loudly and sought an apology from him.
The drought issue came for discussion during the Question Hour. Replying to a question raised by G Chinna Reddy, Jeevan Reddy and others, Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali said no severe drought conditions are prevailing in Telangana.
The government has declared 231 mandals as drought-hit due to failure of South West monsoon in 2015. Mahmood Ali explained that while considering declaration of drought, government takes into account various issues including rainfall, crop area, crop yield, vegetation growth, water availability at irrigation sources, availability of drinking water, conditions of agricultural labour etc.
Also reports of departments of agriculture, irrigation and planning and a field report given by district collector are considered.
All necessary relief measures have been taken by the respective departments in the drought-hit mandals, Mahmood Ali added.
Not satisfied by the reply, Jeevan Reddy questioned the reason for not declaring 21 mandals in Karimnagar district as drought-hit as per guidelines and found fault with the government for not following a High Court directive in this regard.
Agriculture minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy intervened and said as per the guidelines of Central government, the State government has declared 231 mandals as drought-hit and requested the Union government to release Rs 3,000 crore as drought relief.
After the visit of a Central team, the Union government has agreed to release Rs 791 crore of which Rs 380 crore was for drinking water, fodder and others.
So far, only Rs 56 crore was released by the Centre. With regard to 21 mandals of Karimnagar, the matter has been referred to the Committee on drought for its recommendation, he added.
Congress senior member Jeevan Reddy said that despite a directive from the High Court, the State government failed to take any concrete steps to declare 21 mandals in Karimnagar district as drought-hit.
