Central team assesses drought impact in Vijayanagara district

A Central drought assessment team visited villages in the Vijayanagara district on Monday to evaluate the impact of deficient rainfall on agriculture and rural livelihoods. Led by senior Union government official Ajit Kumar Sahu, the team consisting of Colonel Amarendra Singh and Chet Ram Meena met with farmers, agricultural laborers, and villagers to gauge the extent of crop losses and water scarcity.

At Neelagunda lake, the team witnessed desilting work under the VB-G RAM G scheme and conversed with 416 workers employed on the project, many of whom expressed their dependence on wage labor and faced irregular employment due to rural job guarantee programs. Some workers also lamented delays in wage payments. In Maidur village, the team examined a borewell and discussed water shortages with residents.

At Ittigi, they surveyed farmer Rudrappa Baligar's maize field, which had suffered extensive damage due to inadequate rainfall, and inquired about crop insurance claims despite paid premiums. The team urged authorities to raise compensation from ₹2,500 per acre to ₹60,000 per acre based on a comprehensive crop loss assessment.