Congress MLA Ashok Rai raises concerns over yellow disease in arecanut crops in DK district
Belagavi: Congress MLA from Puttur constituency, Ashok Rai has voiced his concerns regarding farmer suffering from the detection of yellow disease in arecanut crops in 10 villages of Sullia taluk during the discussion on drought in the Legislative Assembly on Friday here at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
Rai highlighted that there is 37,317 hectares of land in 10 villages of Sulya Taluk. Of this, 11,449 hectares are agricultural land. Out of this, 5558 farmers have grown arecanut crop in 5111 hectare area and are suffering from yellow disease, he said.
“Even though the yellow disease has been detected in the arecanut crop, no relief has been announced to the farmers so far. Farmers are in debt. The price of arecanut per quintal has come down to Rs 410 from Rs 480-500.” He further demanded that Rs 700 per day should be paid to agricultural workers. “Amidst such conditions, the central government has cleared the nod to import 12 thousand tons of arecanut.”
He highlighted the need for the state agriculture minister to engage with the central government to address the challenges faced by arecanut growers in the state. Rai warned that if the yellow disease spreads from Sullia to Puttur, it could lead to more significant issues.
Additionally, Rai mentioned that the central government has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court claiming that nuts contain nicotine. He urged the state government to engage in discussions with the Center to ensure that arecanuts from the state do not contain nicotine, addressing potential health concerns.
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Telangana govt rejects Adani's Rs 100 cr donation for skills university
Hyderabad, Nov 25: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday announced that the state government will not accept the Rs 100 crore CSR donation committed by industrialist Gautam Adani for the Young India Skills University being set up in the state.
The CM's announcement came days after the indictment of the Adani Group chairman in a US court.
In a letter to Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, the state government's Special Chief Secretary (Industries) Jayesh Ranjan said he has been "instructed by the chief minister not to seek the transfer of funds in view of the present circumstances and arising controversies".
While thanking Priti Adani for committing Rs 100 crore to the skills university, the official said the state government has so far not asked any of the donors for physical transfer of funds since the university had not received the IT exemption under Section 80 G. However, the IT exemption order has now been received recently.
Addressing a press conference here, Revanth Reddy said the decision was taken as the Congress government does not want to find itself in any unwarranted controversy amid the allegations against the Adani Group.
He said so far the Telangana government has not accepted a single rupee into its account from any organisation, including Adani Group, for the skills university being established to promote employment avenues for youth.
"I and my Cabinet colleagues do not want to be involved in unnecessary discussions and situations that would dent Telangana's image or my own," Reddy said.
Gautam Adani met the chief minister here on Octrober 18 and symbolically handed over a cheque for Rs 100 crore towards donation to the skills university.
Asked about the comments of BRS that the government should cancel the Adani Group's investment proposals in the state, Reddy said the government will have to take legal opinion for cancellation of any agreements as the other party can go to courts against unilateral termination of pacts.
On BRS working president K T Rama Rao's comments that the previous BRS regime did not allow Adani Group into the state, Reddy displayed photographs of former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao and Rama Rao with Gautam Adani to the mediapersons.
He also read out a list of Adani Group's investment proposals reportedly approved by the BRS government.
"Is he (Rama Rao) ready for a probe on these," Reddy asked.
When pointed out that the state government discussed investment proposals with the Adani Group though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been raising questions on Adani for several years now, he said Congress is not against any investment proposal or corporate house but crony capitalism and violation of rules.
It is his responsibility to follow his leader when the latter is raising his voice on an issue, Reddy said.
