Scores of TDP workers staged protest at the Collectorate demanding immediate payment to paddy farmers and rolling back of fuel prices in the State.
Led by party district president Gannoju Srinivasa Chary, scores of party workers took out a rally from Ekasila park in Balasamudram to the District Collector’s office here on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Chary said the State government had procured paddy worth ₹40 crore from farmers through 30 IKP centres across rural district but only made payment to the tune of ₹26 crore. Over ₹14 crore were pending with the State government and the farmers were in distress over delay in payment of dues.
“The State government had said it will make payment within two days from procurement of paddy. But even after one month, there was no response and farmers are forced to make rounds of government offices,” he pointed out.
The kharif has already started but the State government has not announced the loan schedule so far. The pending dues and non- announcement of loan schedule has irked the farming community. Compounding their problems, the increased fuel prices have come like a blow. It has resulted with increased transport cost, burdening the farmers.
The TDP leaders in their representation to the officials demanded that the State government address the problems faced by the farmers and also to bring down fuel prices.