AP Minister assures farmers seven hour power supply

Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, Dec 26 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Marketing Minister Botsa Satyanarayana today said the state government would ensure-seven hour uninterrupted power supply to farmers to save their crops.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Government was purchasing power from other states for provision of adequate supply to the farm sector. The Chief Minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, had sanctioned Rs 600 crore for purchase of power, he added.

Alleging that the erstwhile TDP Government was responsible for the present power crisis, he said the TDP had not taken steps to strengthen the agriculture. Instead, the party felt there was no need for agriculture, as industries could provide employment to all the unemployed, he added.

The Minister also said the previous Government had neglected the irrigation sector by throwing the agriculture sector into the turmoil and leading to farmers' suicides.

Mr Satyanarayana said the present Congress Government, led by Dr Reddy, had attached importance to irrigation and had taken up 'Jala Yagnam' with a massive investment to provide water to the cultivable lands.

He said there was no need for the farmers to panic and advised them not to fall prey to the agitations of the opposition, which he said were politically motivated. The power supply position in the State would improve within a few days, he added.

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