Officials accused of clearing crops to lay road for Amaravati event
Guntur, Oct 12: Farmers in the capital region have alleged that officials had forcefully cleared standing crops to be harvested in 10-15 days, for laying road to the venue of Amaravati foundation-stone laying ceremony. According to reports, the officials have planned to lay large by-pass road from Chinadonka of Undavalli to programme venue. The officials started clearing crops in Undavalli, Venkatapalem and Uddandarayunipalem villages in the capital region. A farmer from Venkatapuram alleged that his banana crop to be harvested in four days was removed without giving any prior information. Cultivation of crops, particularly horticulture crops involve huge expenditure. Bananas crop takes an year duration to give yield and cost of vegetable seed is much expensive. Cost of 10 gm quality hybrid chilli or tomato seed ranges anywhere between Rs 2,000 to 3,000. If we take cost of ploughing, weeding, watering, fertilisers, pesticides, fungicides and other miscellaneous expenditure, it costs Rs 1 lakh to 2 lakh excluding the labour of a farmer from dawn to dusk, to cultivate horticulture crops in one acre land.
