The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Drought relief tardy:CPI

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Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Drought relief tardy:CPI

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 29. The Communist Party of India floor leader, Chada Venkat Reddy, has urged the Government to make officials accountable for the ongoing drought works.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Mr. Reddy said drought works were being taken up at a slow pace and asked officials to expedite them. "Though it is four months since the Congress Government came to power, the works are not up to the mark.

It is the duty of the Government to help the affected people and provide them employment," he added. He asked officials to orient themselves to the expectations of the new Government.

`Prevent migration'

He wanted the Government to take steps to prevent migration of labourers from villages in search of employment. Mr. Reddy said compensation to the tune of Rs. 10, 000 for ryots who incurred losses by raising cotton and chilly crops and Rs. 5,000 for other crops should be paid.

He said new borewells should be sunk in the rural areas where existing ones had gone dry and people were facing drinking water crisis. He wanted protected water supply schemes in all habitations and transportation of drinking water to areas which were facing shortage.

Rice for poor sought

The CPI floor leader asked the Government to set right the flaws in the `Food-for-work' programme and ensure that all the benefits reached the targeted groups.

He said the poorest of the poor in the villages should be provided 50 kg of rice free of cost. Aged people should also be provided with 10 kg of rice.

The Paderu MLA, Demudu, said suicide by farmers in Telangana and Rayalaseema regions would spread to Coastal Andhra and agency areas as a drought-like situation was prevailing in these areas also.

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