Telangana BJP chief blames irregular power for crop losses

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao has blamed erratic electricity supplies for crop damage across thousands of acres in Nalgonda district. Speaking to reporters at Nagarjunasagar on Wednesday, after visiting villages and mandals in the district, Rao alleged that farmers were receiving only about five hours of electricity a day.

He contrasted this with the State government’s claim that it provides 12 to 15 hours. Rao said farmers dependent on borewells were unable to pump enough groundwater because of irregular power and frequent breakdowns. He described farming families as distressed by crop losses, heat and mosquito infestations.

He visited areas including Kanagal and Nalgonda Rural mandals and the village of Chinna Madaram, where agriculture in large parts of the ayacut depends on borewell irrigation. He said crops had withered across thousands of acres because of inadequate water. The BJP leader accused the Congress government of failing to prepare for a possible rainfall deficit associated with El Nino.

He said farmers should have been supported through awareness of alternative crops, irrigation of dry crops, vegetable cultivation and other diversified practices. Rao urged the State to seek Central assistance, invite a Central assessment team and provide immediate compensation. He also called for water to be released from the upstream Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs to reduce the risk of shortages.

He rejected the government’s explanation that coal shortages caused the power problem, attributing it instead to poor coordination and inadequate use of hydel, solar and imported power resources.