Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 29 (PTI) YSRCP leader K Kannababu on Thursday accused the Andhra Pradesh government of failing to provide adequate relief to farmers affected by Cyclone Arnab, alleging that the administration was more concerned about publicity than addressing ground-level problems.
However, there was no immediate reaction from the ruling TDP.
Speaking to reporters in Kakinada, the former minister questioned the absence of ministers in affected areas despite warnings about the cyclone. He also criticised the government for asking farmers to upload photographs of crop damage through an app, saying the responsibility for assessing losses should rest with the Agriculture and Revenue departments.
"The Naidu government has failed to provide adequate relief to farmers affected by Cyclone Arnab and appears more focused on publicity than addressing the problems faced by people on the ground," said Kannababu.
He sought a definite timeline for disbursing compensation and demanded enhanced assistance for paddy farmers under the scale of relief revised during the previous YSRCP government in November 2023.
He said the NDA coalition government had estimated crop damage across 8.3 lakh acres, of which paddy accounted for 7.6 lakh acres and questioned why farmers growing the crop were not being given higher compensation.
The YSRCP leader said the previous government had used Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) to register crops, provided free crop insurance and disbursed insurance compensation of Rs 23,000 to Rs 29,000 per acre in the region between 2019 and 2024. He also claimed that during his party's regime, input subsidies were paid before the subsequent cropping season.
Alleging that farmers were now facing uncertainty over crop insurance and input subsidies, the YSRCP leader said the government had failed to pay its share of insurance premiums.
He further demanded compensation for tenant farmers, fishermen who lost boats and nets and aqua farmers whose ponds were damaged or whose operations were affected by power disruptions.
He also called for medical camps in cyclone-hit areas and the publication of beneficiary lists detailing the relief distributed.
Kannababu sought the postponement of electoral processes in cyclone-affected parts of Kakinada until field-level verification was completed and public objections were addressed.
He urged the government to move beyond publicity exercises and ensure that all affected families received fair compensation.
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)