Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday said that the government had taken the responsibility of clearing the pending arrears of sugarcane farmers to the tune of Rs. 12.5 Crore under the Chittoor Cooperative Sugar factory and Rs. 8 crore more under the S.V. Sugars of Renigunta near Tirupati.
Incidentally, crushing in Chittoor sugar unit commenced on Thursday, with workers extending their cooperation following Mr. Naidu’s announcement.
Speaking at the launch of Rythu Sadhikara Sadassu at PVKN Degree College grounds here, the Chief Minister said that agriculture in Chittoor would be fruitful only when the Handri-Neeva and Galeru Nagari projects were completed. “We will accomplish these missions at any cost,” he said.
Red sanders auctionDefending the auctioning of red sander logs to pool up revenue for the State, he took a dig at the YSR Congress for “plundering the red sanders”, but criticising the government. He said that as many as 8,000 agriculture extension officials would be at the service of farmers in the State soon.
Conserving rainwaterLater, he called on farmers to conserve rain water in a big way. “Desilting of tanks will be undertaken on a war footing, and check-dams will be built, wherever necessary, to recharge the groundwater,” he said.
He further said that steps would be taken to formulate the concept of ‘Smart Andhra Pradesh’ from January next year and appealed prominent personalities of various fields to adopt a village of their choice and develop it.
Earlier, Mr. Naidu, who arrived in Chittoor by a helicopter, inaugurated a public heath centre, mineral water plant, NTR statue on the municipal corporation premises. Collector Siddharth Jain apprised Mr. Naidu of the implementation of various welfare schemes in the district.
