Nellore: Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy demands relief to cyclone-hit farmers

Nellore: TDP politburo member Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said that crops in around 12 lakh acres were affected due to cyclone Nivar. Farmers in the state had faced a loss of Rs 8,000 crore this time, he said. Addressing media at NTR Bhavan here on Monday, he demanded the government to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 to the farmers per acre of paddy cultivated.

The TDP leader also asked the government to pay Rs 25,000 per acre to the farmers who lost banana, betel leave plantation crops in the district.

He said financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to be provided besides 25 kgs of rice to the people who lost their livelihood due to heavy rains in the state. He also demanded the government to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the handloom weavers since their looms received damages due to rainwater.

He found fault with the irrigation officials for not estimating the situation at Somasila reservoir properly while discharging water.

Further, TDP Nellore LS constituency in-charge SK Abdul Aziz said the district officials had neglected taking care of patients at the Government General Hospital who suffered due to waterlogging which finally resulted in power outage since Sunday afternoon.

He also said that they came to know that around 10 people died due to the difficulty. He asked what the officials were doing when there was no power in the hospital. He asked what measures they are going to take in the coming days during natural calamities.