Drought: Telangana govt blamed for lack of foresight

Warangal: Extreme heat conditions are taking a toll on the cattle in the district. Already due to crop failure, the farmers are not able to find fodder for their milch cattle and are selling them off unable to see them starve to death. This way, the farmers are also losing the income they get by selling milk from the cattle. Currently, due to drought conditions, there is acute shortage of fodder for the cattle.

Telangana Shepherds Association district president Jatangi Srisailam said the state government should take the initiative to help the farmers and shepherds save their cattle. “Every day hundreds of cattle are dying due to lack of fodder and the heat wave. If initiatives like digging water holes near tanks are taken, the sheep and goats would not have to go through this ordeal. There are lakhs of families dependent on breeding cattle. The government needs to take immediate steps to help them,” he said.

Senior BJP leader Narahari Venugopal Reddy said even though, the Central government is giving sufficient funds, the state government has failed to take any preventive steps for tackling such issues in summer. He said the cattle are dying due to lack of fodder in many villages. “This situation would usually arise in May but this time we are seeing it in April itself,” said Mr Reddy adding that this situation should be considered as a natural disaster and steps should be taken urgently.

“TRS government has no foresight. The Central government has given funds of Rs 7,500 crore so far but the state government failed to take up any relief measures. Apart from projects like Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya, they have nothing for the people. Andhra Pradesh government is providing fodder to the farmers and they have taken up summer relief measures in large numbers. Our own CM does not care. Who is taking care of the state now?” he questioned.