TELANGANA committee of CPI(M) leaders toured in the flood-hit districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam and Mahabubnagar to study the crop losses caused by recent heavy rains.

The state has recorded a 51 per cent additional rainfall this year due to the floods leading to heavy crop losses. Hundreds of tanks and culverts were damaged and crops like paddy, pulses, cotton were lost in the heavy flood water. Transportation to tribal agency areas in Bhadradri and Kothagudem districts has come to a halt and villages in the vicinity of Godavari river have come under water. The agricultural department has estimated as much as four lakh acres of crop loss this year. Farmers in Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam and Adilabad districts have faced the highest losses during the catastrophe.

Warangal city has come under water and it is criticised that if the plan adopted four years back had been implemented, the drowning could have been avoided. Encroachments on lakes and illegal constructions are said to be the main reason for the situation and the authorities who have been mute spectators are blamed for their reckless work. The city also lacked a drainage system and the water rose as high as 2.3 metres during the floods. The state government allotted Rs 300 crore in the last budget for Warangal city.

The survey groups were led by Polit Bureau member B V Raghavulu, Central Committee member G Nagaiah, state secretary T Veerabhadram, state secretariat members J Rangareddy, T Jyothi, John Wesley and B Venkat and district leaders as well.

B V Raghavulu, who led one team, said that crops belonging to dalits and weaker sections have been hit the worst and demanded fair compensation immediately from the government. He also urged the government to clear the sand collected on crop lands due to the floods. He criticised the poor quality of the roads, buildings and canals that dilapidated in the floods and said that the farmers and people of all sections have faced many problems because of it.

Tammineni Veerabhadram said that the TRS government in the state should pressure the centre and demand additional funds to mitigate flood losses. He also pointed that the renowned Ram temple of Bhadradi has also sunk in water because of the floods. Julakanti Rangareddy said that the government has failed to avert flood wreckage in Warangal town.

CPI(M) has demanded relief measures including 25 kgs of rice and Rs 10,000 to each family. Mobile health centres in all flood affected areas and better medical attention in the districts were also demanded. The Party demanded that a regional survey be conducted on crop loss in association with farmers and that the government should give compensation to farmers directly. It also sought the banks to give loans to new crops and said that it should also be extended to sharecroppers and forest tillers as well.

More funds for the flood hit areas, inquiry into illegal constructions, double bedroom houses for eligible poor in the areas and immediate implementation of Warangal city plan in addition to Rs 100 crore for Bhadrachalam temple were some of the other demands made by the CPI(M) in Telanagana.