Bandi Sanjay Kumar Urges Government to Release Water for Farmers
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, has urged the State government to release water immediately. He warned that the delay is causing crops on 10 lakh acres to dry up, putting farmers in a difficult situation.
Speaking on Thursday, he criticized the government for its negligence. He pointed out that paddy has been planted on 56 lakh acres and maize on 7 lakh acres across the state. However, due to the failure to release water on time, crops on nearly 10 lakh acres have already been damaged. The worst-affected areas are those at the tail-end of irrigation systems, where standing crops are drying up completely.
Farmers, who have invested over ₹30,000 per acre and worked hard to cultivate their fields, are now facing massive losses. Many crops are drying up just before harvest, leaving farmers helpless. He compared the situation to trying to extract milk from a lump of rice. Despite farmers protesting to save their crops, the government has not responded, which he called an irresponsible failure of duty.
Bandi Sanjay Kumar also criticized the agriculture department for not recognizing the farmers’ losses. He mentioned that crops are drying up, being eaten by livestock, or even burning, yet officials have not taken action. Additionally, he pointed out that more than 20 lakh farmers are struggling with debt because the government’s promised loan waiver has not been fully implemented.
He demanded that the State Assembly discuss these urgent issues and that the government take immediate steps to support the affected farmers.
