Khammam: Agriculture minister Tummala Nageswara Rao on Tuesday directed excise department officials to ensure that there are no bars or permit rooms near educational institutions, hospitals and temples.
Speaking after distributing its Katamaiah Rakshaka Kavach Kits” to toddy tappers at a programme here, he said safety kits would prevent falling of the toddy tappers from the palm trees. The safety kits would be distributed to all the toddy tappers by the state government. He asked toddy tappers to utilise the facility.
Officials of the excise department should also supervise whether the toddy tappers were using the safety kits or not. He instructed the officials to create awareness among toddy tappers on the benefits of safety kits.
While conducting a surprise visit to the green gram purchase centre in agricultural market of Khammam, Rao said the purchase of green gram from the farmers would continue till the last grain. He instructed officials to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 8,682 per quintal to farmers for green gram.
District marketing officer Md Aleem informed the minister that two green gram purchase centres were set up in Khammam district i.e. one at Khammam and another in Wyra. About 4,292 quintals of green gram have been purchased from 391 farmers till now, he added. Later, the minister inspected the repair works to Prakashnagar bridge, which was damaged due to recent floods.
