Farmers, MLA join hands to desilt Alisagar Tank

Medak : Farmers of Nungunur mandal on Thursday adopted a unique practice of performing 'shramdan' in Alisagar Tank and spending the earnings to send back monkeys into forest, which have been damaging their crops. They were inspired by the advice of Telangana Rashtra Samiti legislator T. Harish Rao. About 100 farmers performed 'shramdan' under the MLA's leadership to remove weeds from the tank. They will continue the work for three days, which will help not only to save the tank, but fetch them money to get rid of the monkey menace. They worked disregarding temperature of 44 degrees C.A

Rao blamed the government for failing to find solutions to such problems facing farmers.Simians have been causing havoc damaging crops in Ayashapur, Siddannapet, Lampur, Venkatapur, Akkennapalli, Ghanapur and other adjoining villages during the last two/three years. They are moving into residential areas and damaging houses and crops, besides attacking women and children.

Farmers, raising crops like maize, vegetables and fruits, have of late been staying from fields on account of the damage being caused by monkeys and limiting themselves only to paddy cultivation. When the crop is ready for harvesting, they are suffering loss to the tune of lakhs of rupees because of heavy rains/hailstorms, particularly in Siddipet and Chinnakodur areas.

Farmers had submitted several representations to officials on the monkey menace. Since the officialdom had so solution to the problem and was unable to provide budget, ryots in some villages are themselves pooling in money. They are spending that money on utilizing the services of monkey-catchers.