Andhra Pradesh

Minister lays stress on protecting ryots’ interests

MACHILIPATNAM: Accusing officials of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) of deceiving the farmers by not paying adequate compensation, Minister for Rural Water Supply Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao on Sunday stressed the need for protecting the interests of farmers.

Addressing the general body of the Krishna Zilla Parishad, Mr. Rao said that though the Union Government released guidelines on drilling activities being taken up by the ONGC, many of the local farmers were unaware of their rights pertaining to ex gratia.

Referring to the National Family Benefit Scheme and that the order of seniority was not being maintained during the implementation of the scheme, Mr. Rao said that there were prescribed guidelines to implement the scheme and the members of the Zilla Parishad take initiative to propagate it in the district.

Reacting to the issue of drinking water problem in Nuzvid area, raised by MLA Meka Venkata Pratapa Appa Rao, the Minister said that all programmes pertaining to drinking water were being funded by the World Bank and a clearance for release of funds was pending with the bank officials.

Zilla Parishad chairman K. Nageswara Rao presided over the meeting. District Collector Shailaja Ramaiyer, vice-chairperson of the zilla parishad T. Padmavathi, Kaikaluru MLA Yerneni Raja Ramachander, Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkatramaiah and others were present.

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