Efforts will be made to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for agro-based industries in Madugula and Chodavaram Assembly constituencies, Minister of Tourism and Culture Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao has said.
At the launch of farmer-support programme ‘Rythu Bharosa’ at Chodavaram on Tuesday, he said it would benefit 2,77,651 farmers in the district with an assistance of ₹222.41 crore.
The ‘Rythu Bharosa’ programme that ensured a financial assistance of ₹13,500 to identified farmers was being implemented after Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy learnt about the hardships of farmers during his ‘padayatra,’ the Minister said.
Among the other measures taken to help farmers were, remunerative prices for farm produce and provision of a rig to each of the Assembly constituencies to dig borewells and raising the ex gratia to the kin of farmers who committed suicide to ₹7 lakh.
Mr. Srinivasa Rao assured farmers that the Govada sugar factory running in loss would be bailed out by sanctioning ₹175 crore. The Kondassanta and Komaravolu reservoirs would be completed and Kalyanapu Lova reservoir would be sanctioned ₹25 lakh.
Joint Collector L. Siva Sankar said all eligible farmers would be extended the assistance. The time was extended with the intention of including those eligible after rectifying the mistakes in the ‘Praja Sadhikara Survey’ and land records. He gave away cheques under the programme to farmers.
Chodavaram MLA Karanam Dharmasri, who presided over the meeting, said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy proved that the resolve to do good to various sections of society was more beneficial than experience by implementing 95% of the promises in four months.
Anakapalle MP B.V. Satyavathi wanted MNREGS to be linked to agriculture and setting up a cold storage for each mandal.
Former Minister Dadi Veerabhadra Rao, VMRDA Chairman Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao and MLA Golla Babu Rao participated.
Farmers V. Gangaraju (Kalyanapu Lova) and Bh. Rama Rao (Lakshmapuram) who received the cheques expressed their happiness at the assistance being extended.
Centre’s assistance
Participating in the programme at Korada in Bhimunipatnam constituency, Mr. Srinivasa Rao the scheme was being implemented with the co-operation of the Union government. The Minister said 50% reservation would be provided to women in welfare programmes and in the forthcoming local body elections. The Minister rode a bullock cart amidst a rousing welcome by cadres. He inaugurated the stalls set by the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments. Pendurti MLA Annamreddy Aadeep Raj and the VMRDA Chairman Dronamraju Srinivas Rao participated.
