The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tension in Nandigama as subabul ryots gherao officials

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Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tension in Nandigama as subabul ryots gherao officials

Staff Reporter

They demand remunerative price for their produce

NANDIGAMA: Mild tension prevailed here on Monday when hundreds of subabul farmers took part in a dharna in front of the Tehsildar’s office and gheraoed officials for hours together in support of their demand for the fulfilment of the Government’s promise of ensuring remunerative price for their produce.

The farmers turned angry at the officials for not taking proactive steps to solve their problems.

The dharna began at 9 a.m. and went on till 4.30 p.m., with local MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and scores of farmers’ leaders present on the occasion.

They relented only after Marketing Minister M. Mareppa and district Collector Shailaja Ramaiyer discussed the issue with Mr. Umamaheswara Rao over phone.

The farmers gave up their protest after they were assured that a meeting would be organised between their representatives and paper mill owners in the presence of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on August 5.

The main concern of farmers was that the mill owners were giving just Rs. 900 a tonne despite the Chief Minister’s announcement during his visit to Gandepalli in Kanchikacharla mandal recently that a remunerative price of Rs. 1,600 a tonne would be ensured.

The Government and the district administration had not made any effort to ensure a better deal to subabul farmers, they said.

Mr. Umamaheswara Rao said that the farmers’ plight was worsening, as even purchase centres for subabul were closed even after the Chief Minister’s assurance over the remunerative price. He warned of intensifying the agitation, if the Government did not come to the rescue of farmers.

At the receiving end of the day’s protest were Tehsildar B. Vidyasagar and Agriculture Market Yard Committee secretary R. Sivanageswara Rao. Farmers locked up the Tehsildar’s office and held the officials nearly captive in the adjacent treasury office.

The Tehsildar, sensing the hostile mood, talked to higher officials and sought to allay frayed tempers.

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