ANANTAPUR: The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham (APRS) on Tuesday staged road blockade programme at several places in the district, alleging overlooking of farmers' problems by the State Government.

As a result, road traffic was disrupted on all main roads passing through the district including NH-7, NH-205 and several State highways.

As the CPI and APRS activists blocked the NH-205 on the campus of Sri Krishnadevaraya University near hear for more than 90 minutes, the police arrested about 40 activists including former legislator, K. Ramakrishna, and about 10 women.

Speaking at the protest site earlier, Mr. Ramakrishna, demanded the two ministers, representing the State Cabinet from the district, J.C. Diwakar Reddy and N. Raghuveera Reddy, to quit their posts alleging that they had failed to protect the interests of the district. He alleged that they had failed to ensure a clear allocation of 10 tmcft of water to Penna Ahobilam Balancing Reservoir (PABR).

Compensation sought

Stating that the groundnut farmers had suffered a heavy crop loss in the district this year due to untimely rain, he demanded the Government to assure crop insurance to all farmers who were covered under the crop insurance scheme. For others, he demanded the Government to pay a compensation of Rs. 2,000 per acre.

As part of the Opposition, the two ministers and other Congress leaders had too joined the demand of the CPI for a comprehensive crop insurance scheme benefiting the perennially drought-prone district and allocation of 10 tmcft water to PABR, Mr. Ramakrishna reminded. If they were not interested in keeping the interests of the district farmers they should better quit, he suggested.

Special schemes

He demanded planning of comprehensive schemes for the development of the district. Further, he alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was acting more as a politician rather than a Chief Minister in matters pertaining to irrigation projects, particularly in ensuring water to different districts. Similar road blockades were also conducted at Gooty, Guntakal, Kalyanadurg, Pamidi, Kadiri, Bathalapalli and several other places.

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