Hyderabad: Govt adviser Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Friday accused BRS working president K T Rama Rao of misleading farmers, asserting that the Congress govt had not declared a crop holiday but only advised against water-intensive Rabi crops, particularly paddy, without assured irrigation.“Farmers risk losing investments in seeds, fertilisers and labour if water runs out midway. How does warning them become a crop holiday?” he asked, citing similar advisories issued during the BRS regime.Shabbir Ali blamed incomplete irrigation projects for the water crisis, saying major and medium reservoirs held around 180 TMC against their combined capacity of 585 TMC. He questioned why projects such as Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, SLBC, Sita Rama and Pranahita-Chevella remained incomplete after nearly 10 years of BRS rule.He said the Congress govt had declared 365 mandals drought-affected on Oct 27 following a 17% rainfall deficit, compared with 231 mandals declared drought-hit by BRS in November 2015.He cited the assembly’s demand for NDRF assistance and a Rs 20,000-crore package, emergency funds to collectors and an El Niño sub-committee.Dismissing claims of power and water holidays, he said farm supply continued despite demand nearing 20,000 MW, while drinking water remained the priority in Hyderabad.
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