Hyderabad: Dubbak MLA Kotha Prabhakar Reddy accused the government of failing to supply irrigation water, quality electricity, urea and fertilisers to farmers. He said crops across thousands of acres in the constituency were drying up due to shortages of water and power.
On Friday, Prabhakar Reddy joined farmers in a road blockade at Akbarpet-Bhoompally mandal headquarters. They blocked National Highway 765DG, the Medak-Elkathurthy highway, to demand immediate action. The protesters raised slogans against the government and called for urgent relief to farmers.
The Dubbak farmers protest centred on irrigation, electricity and the supply of essential agricultural inputs. Prabhakar Reddy demanded the immediate completion of the main and distributary canals of the Mallanna Sagar project. He said the government must ensure irrigation water reaches farmers’ fields.
Dubbak farmers protest: MLA warns of intensified agitation
Prabhakar Reddy warned that farmers would intensify their agitation if the government failed to resolve their problems. He said they could storm the Secretariat and take their protest to Delhi if necessary.
He also declared that he would not hesitate to resign from his post to protect farmers’ interests. The MLA urged the government to act quickly to prevent further crop losses.
During the protest, electricity officials assured Prabhakar Reddy that they would take up the issue with senior officers. Siddipet Electricity Department Deputy Executive Engineer Ramachandraiah, Dubbak Assistant Divisional Engineer Gangadhar and Akbarpet-Bhoompally Assistant Engineer Kanakaiah gave the assurance.
The officials said they would seek improvements in electricity supply to prevent crops from drying up. Following their assurance, Prabhakar Reddy and the farmers withdrew the protest.
Former Telangana SC and ST Commission chairman Bakki Venkatayya attended the agitation. PACS chairman Kailash and BRS mandal president Jeedipalli Ravi also participated. Sarpanches, public representatives, party leaders Venkat Narasimha Reddy and Satish Reddy, along with other party workers, joined the protest.