Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – Opposition leaders in Andhra Pradesh came together for an All Party Roundtable meeting at Vijayawada Dasari Bhavan on December 9 to discuss the government’s handling of Cyclone Michaung and the subsequent drought in the state. Leaders from various parties expressed deep concern over the extensive damage caused by the cyclone and criticized the Chief Minister and Revenue Department for their lack of action. The meeting resulted in a list of demands aimed at alleviating the suffering of the affected population.
Gidugu Rudra Raju, the State President of AP Congress, highlighted the alarming situation in Andhra Pradesh, where crops have been destroyed due to heavy rains following a previous drought. He criticized the government for its lack of care for the people and called for the release of Rs 50,000 as compensation for crop damage per acre.
According to Raju, the government’s estimate of 1.47 lakh hectares of crops damaged falls far short of the actual damage, which he claimed to be over 20 lakh acres. The destruction caused by the cyclone has left houses and properties in ruins, while potholed roads have worsened transportation disruptions.
CPM State Secretary V Srinivas Rao joined in the criticism, stating that both the central and state governments have failed to meet the needs of the cyclone- and drought-hit areas. He called for immediate action, including the release of Rs 25,000 per acre for tenant farmers and the maintenance of drainage systems to prevent further paddy damage.
The roundtable meeting resulted in several demands, including the recognition of cyclone and drought damage as national calamities and an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore to the state. The demands also called for the identification and enumeration of damaged crops, prioritizing tenant farmers, and declaring 470 mandals with low rainfall as drought-prone. Compensation rates of Rs 40,000 per acre for food crops, Rs 75,000 for commercial crops, and Rs 1 lakh per acre for horticultural crops were also requested, along with a complete waiver of all loans and the provision of free loans for second crops.
Other demands included urgent repairs to irrigation and sewage canals, unrestricted government purchase of wet and sprouted grains, cotton, and chilli crops, and the creation of employment opportunities for 200 days to prevent migration.
The resolution from the meeting emphasized the need for immediate action from both the central and state governments to address the suffering of the affected population and prevent further distress. The leaders called for the government to prioritize the demands put forth to mitigate the impact of Cyclone Michaung and the drought.
With the opposition leaders united in their demands, the ball is now in the government’s court to take prompt action and provide relief to the affected people of Andhra Pradesh.
