ANANTAPUR: The drought situation in the district demands immediate intervention of the Government for relief, district secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) G. Obulakonda Reddy has said.

Speaking to newspersons here on Wednesday, he stated that no trace of rainfall since July first week in most parts of the district had left the farming community dejected. A large area of land was left unsown and the farmers were disposing of seed at throwaway prices.

Peaking up

Migration of labour had already been peaking up from different parts of the district and the farmers, unable to provide fodder, were on the verge of disposing of their cattle, he stated.

On the other hand, banks and cooperative societies had been issuing notices for recovery of gold loans forcing the farmers into deep distress. Pressure from the private moneylenders was even worse. As a result, about 20 farmers had already committed suicide in the district since July, but the Government was yet to respond with any relief measures, Mr. Obulakonda Reddy said.

He also made light of the often-claimed "love" of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy towards Anantapur alleging that he had been paying special attention to completion of irrigation projects benefiting Kadapa district and neglecting the same in Anantapur. His reported statement that Government could not provide irrigation facility to more than 3.5 lakh acres in Anantapur was an insult to the people here, he said.

He demanded immediate supply of fodder, Rs. 5 lakhs ex gratia to the families of farmers' suicides and 200 days of work to each family under Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

The CPI (M) would organise road-bandh on September 12 in all towns and mandal headquarters in the district to press the Government to take up drought relief, he added.

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