*Severe drought, Govt abandons Farmers: Sailajanath*

Tadepalli, Sept 11: Former Minister and senior YSRCP leader Sake Sailajanath said Andhra Pradesh is facing severe drought and rainfall deficit, while the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government has failed to respond with any meaningful contingency plan. Speaking at the YSRCP Central Office, he said the popular saying that “Babu and drought are twins” has once again proved true, with farmers across the State staring helplessly at dried-up fields.

Sailajanath said the State is facing a rainfall deficit of more than 55%, while cultivation in parts of Rayalaseema has fallen to just 30–35% of normal levels. He said farmers were advised not to cultivate paddy, yet the government failed to ensure alternative crops such as groundnut and red gram. Around 3,500 acres under Nellore Barrage have dried up for want of water, while nurseries in the Krishna Delta are also suffering.

He said the government was focused on publicity instead of irrigation management. Despite water being available in Srisailam, Rayalaseema projects were not receiving adequate supplies, while poor maintenance had reached a stage where gates at Pothireddypadu Head Regulator were damaged. Farmers were also being forced back into night-time irrigation, with power supplied at odd hours instead of the promised uninterrupted nine-hour daytime free supply.

Sailajanath said fodder prices had crossed Rs. 200–Rs. 300 per bundle, forcing farmers to sell livestock. He demanded immediate free fodder distribution with 100% subsidy, full per-acre compensation to drought-hit farmers, restoration of free crop insurance, and Rs. 7 lakh assistance to families of farmers who died by suicide, as provided under the previous YSRCP government. He said the government must stop concentrating borrowings only on Amaravati and urgently allocate funds to protect farmers and drought-hit poor across Andhra Pradesh.