Date:05/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/05/stories/2005110517990100.htm

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YSR sticks to his guns on power issue

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday criticised the Telugu Desam Party for attacking the irrigation and power policies of his government in the farm sector stating that these were aimed at improving the lot of agriculturists.

Strongly defending his Government's appeal to farmers not to go for paddy cultivation by drawing groundwater, he said, the suggestion to go for alternative crops was given to reduce usage since the water table was going down and also to give better returns to farmers for the produce.

Attacking the TDP, the Chief Minister alleged that the party was not bothered about the welfare of farmers and reminded that the spate of suicide by farmers had stopped only after the Congress pursued `farmer-friendly' policies.

Dr. Reddy said his government was committed to providing quality power regularly for seven hours each day in order to energise the 24-lakh pumpsets in the State. "Did the TDP provide for power for even seven minutes?'' he asked.

Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy explained in detail the policy of the Government and said the appeal to farmers to diversify was being pursued since 1999. He said while one acre of paddy consumed nearly 60 lakh litres of water, with input costs between Rs.7, 000 and Rs. 8,000, alternative crops such as maize and gram consumed 20 lakh litres per acre with input cost between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 4,000 per acre.

He said the State Government had promised to purchase the produce at prices even higher than those being assured by the Centre and said farmers should conserve water instead of drawing it out for paddy just for one season.

Centre thanked

Dr. Reddy, who was here to take part in the function organised by Andhra Prasdesh Bhavan to mark State Formation Day, also met Union Ministers -- Pranab Mukherjee, Shivraj Patil, Hansraj Bhardwaj and Kapil Sibal.

The Chief Minister thanked the Centre for releasing Rs. 370-crore assistance to the State towards cyclone/flood relief works. He said the Centre had released Rs. 129-crore second instalment to the Calamity Relief Fund, Rs. 100-crore ad hoc release from the national calamity contingency fund and ad hoc release of 1.50 lakh tonnes of rice.

During his meeting with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the Chief Minister said he took up the issue of transfer of lands in the cantonment area in Hyderabad and also installing a safety shield at a firing range near a place where a ring road was being planned.