Crop loss in Guntur nearly Rs. 1,000 cr. : Minister

Minister for Excise Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao said on Wednesday that farmers in Guntur district incurred a loss of nearly Rs. 1,000 crores during the recent spell of heavy rain. Paddy was damaged in 1.90 lakh hectares and cotton in 40,000 hectares. Steps were taken to give input subsidy to the tune of Rs. 160 crores and other relief measures were on the anvil.

Addressing media persons here, Mr. Venkata Ramana Rao said that the Chief Minister was taking necessary action for increasing the quantum of financial assistance that was already announced.

NREGS review

The government would make an announcement on rescheduling of loans in a couple of days. The farmers should not resort to the extreme step of committing suicide as the government was sincerely trying to alleviate their plight, the Minister added.

Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad said that the State government provided job works amounting to Rs. 13,000 crores under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).

It was preparing to implement a scheme for development of barren lands belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at an estimated cost of Rs. 12,000 crores in the coming five years. He was addressing a review meeting with officials of NREGS here. Orders were issued to provide wage employment for SC and ST beneficiaries for more than 100 days in a year. More funds would be sanctioned for NREGS during next financial year.

A sum of Rs. 100 crores was misused in NREGS last year and up to 40 per cent of that amount was recovered from the officers and others responsible for the embezzlement, he added.

Mr. Vara Prasad instructed the district officials to take steps for preventing irregularities in NREGS in the district and warned of stringent action against the culprits. Emphasis was laid on improvement of gravel roads and drains in SC/ST habitations for which enough funds would be made available soon.

In-charge Collector A. Sarath, Zilla Parishad chairperson K Vijaya, Additional Joint Collector Yakub Naik and others were present.