Minister concedes system to assess crop damage faulty
Niranjan Reddy said two to three months are lost by the time officials inspect the damage, submit a report to the collector
WARANGAL: There is no proper system in the country that assesses damage caused to crops due to natural calamities, observed agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy on Tuesday, saying that is the reason why farmers are unable to get timely help.
His comments came after he and panchayatraj minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao inspected damage caused to crops following recent heavy rains in Parkal and Narsampet constituencies of Warangal district. The ministers were deputising for Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, whose visit to inspect drop damage in the district got cancelled. The ministers interacted with the affected farmers.
Niranjan Reddy said two to three months are lost by the time officials inspect the damage, submit a report to the collector and then it goes to the state level for a decision. By then, farmers start cultivating their next crop and accurate details of loss are lost. He said the Chief Minister wants to remove these limitations and examine how farmers can be provided immediate help.
Panchayatraj minister Dayakar Rao said crops spread over 56,000 acres, including chilli and maize, have been damaged in recent rains in Parkal, Narsampet, Mahabubabad and Jayashankar Bhupalpally constituencies. Officials are surveying the damage. He asked farmers to have faith in TRS government since CM KCR has never let them down. The government will sanction compensation as early as possible, he assured.
Rythu Bandhu Samiti president and MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MP Malothu Kavitha, MLAs Peddi Sudharshan Reddy, Challa Dharma Reddy, Shankar Naik and Gandra Venkatramana Reddy and MLC Pochampalli Srinivas Reddy were among those present.