Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader and Siddipet MLA T. Harish Rao on Monday accused the Telangana government of causing paddy procurement delays and pushing farmers into distress.
After visiting a procurement centre at Ensanpalli village in Siddipet district, Harish Rao alleged that procurement operations had collapsed due to government failure.
Addressing the media, he claimed lakhs of farmers were suffering because of delays and irregularities in paddy procurement.
Harish Rao accused the Congress government of failing in urea supply, electricity provision, Rythu Bandhu payments and procurement management.
He said Telangana was expected to produce nearly 14 million tonnes of paddy this season.
However, he alleged that the government was now planning to procure only 7 million tonnes despite earlier assurances to purchase 9 million tonnes.
Paddy procurement delays trigger farmer protests
Harish Rao further alleged that rice millers were forcing farmers to supply paddy bags weighing at least 43 kilograms.
According to him, the practice caused farmers to lose nearly 150 kilograms of paddy per acre.
He criticised officials for failing to respond to complaints raised by farmers at procurement centres.
The BRS leader also alleged that procurement operations remained slow in several districts.
He claimed farmers staged protests and road blockades in parts of Siddipet over delays in lifting paddy stocks lying exposed to rain and heat.
Paddy procurement delays draw criticism from Harish Rao
Targeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Harish Rao alleged that the government was functioning in “Commission Mode” instead of “Mission Mode”.
He also accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil promises related to Rythu Bandhu payments and farm loan waivers.
Harish Rao demanded immediate deployment of trucks and gunny bags to procurement centres.
He urged the government to speed up procurement operations and prevent further losses to farmers.