TDP members stage dharna at ZP meeting

on-payment of arrears to farmers by sugar factory management alleged

Zilla Parishad chief promises action if factory does not meet deadline

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— Photo: Mohd. Arif

highlighting an issue: TDP members protesting at the ZP meeting in Sangareddy on Saturday.

SANGAREDDY: The zilla parishad general body meeting held here on Saturday presided over by Chairman M. Balaiah witnessed some disturbances, with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members sitting in the podium, supported by members of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

Soon after the meeting was convened, which District Collector Piyush Kumar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Y. Upender Reddy also attended, the TDP floor leader B. Venkataiah raised the issue of non-payment of arrears to farmers by a private sugar factory management at Zaheerabad, for which farmers agitated a few days back. He demanded that the general body meeting pass a resolution to attach the assets of the factory if it fails to pay the arrears as promised — first phase before September 30 and remaining before October 10. TDP MLA M. Hanumantha Rao said that as this was related to farmers, the resolution should be passed immediately. He was supported by TRS MLA T. Harish Rao. However, some of the Congress members objected for that, supported by Congress MLA Sunitha Lakshma Reddy. At this point, TDP members rushed to the podium and sat there for sometime.

Special session

Mr. Balaiah intervened and promised to convene a special session to pass such a resolution if the factory management fails to pay arrears. On the crop loss in the recent rains and floods, the district Collector said that already a Central team has visited the affected areas. The compensation would be paid to the farmers once it was released by the government. Admitting there were some lapses, Mr. Piyush Kumar said all problems would be addressed at the constituency level meeting being held by him. Referring to the frequent power problems in the district, Mr. Harish Rao urged that the meeting should pass a resolution for High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) with Rs. 150 crore. “Why negligence in Medak district when such systems are being established at Kadapa and Anatapur with Rs. 300 crore and Rs. 200 crore respectively?” he asked energy department officials.

The district Collector faced some embarrassing moments for sometime as none of the irrigation officials were present at the meeting.