Ryots agitated over plan to fix water meters

Khammam,Nov 27: Farmers agitated over the Government decision to fix Water Meters on Nagarjuna Sagar canal have readied themselves to fight the decisoion.A Joint Action Committee of Farmers' Unions affiliated to the Opposition parties on Friday decided to resort to agitational course against the government.Leaders of all unions who met here to decide about staging rallies and dharnas in the districts.Andhra Pradesh Raithu Sangam District secretary Madineni Ramesh said the government was fixing Water Meters on the NSP canal to deprieve the farmers of the irrigationla benefits.“The decision should be withdrawn imediately forthwith,''Ramesh demanded.

Leader of Telugu Raithu Sangam, Nallamala Venkateswar Rao said the government decision would mean additional tax on the farmers.“The state was selling the mines, now it is selling water,' Raithu Sangam district secretary Mandadapu Thirumala Rao said.“If the government does not drop the move, we will intensify the agitation,'' he reiterated.While the farmers were preparing to fight against the government, the officials in the district began efforts to put the Water Meters in place at a brisk pace.