Drought, rain-hit farmers to get compensation soon

​Guntur: Agriculture Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao said that the government would pay insurance claims of Rs.436.91 crore to the farmers whose groundnut crop was damaged in Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor, and Anantapur districts due to rain and drought in the State.

He said the government settled claims within 45 days and completed necessary formalities for providing compensation to 6,99,881 farmers.

Speaking to the reporters here on Tuesday, Pulla Rao expressed confidence that funds for compensation would be released in a week. “Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will distribute the compensation to the farmers first in Anantapur soon.

Later, it will be distributed to the farmers in other three districts in the State,” he said Saying that the Chief Minister had requested the Centre to take steps to solve currency crisis caused by demonetisation of Rs 1,000, Rs 500 notes, he expressed confidence that the problem would be solved in the coming 20days.

He said the government was encouraging cashless transactions to check circulation of fake currency notes and requested the people to use debit cards, credit cards and the internet banking for making cash transfers.

He reminded that the State government was conducting programmes to create awareness and motivate people to opt for cashless transactions.

When reporters asked about joining of Kasu Mahesh Reddy in YSRCP, he replied that corrupt parties attract only that type of leaders.