Farm hands take to construction

NALGONDA: Lack of rains and frequent power cuts hampering agricultural activity has forced thousands of people in villages to seek livelihood as construction workers in Hyderabad.Some have moved to neighboring Krishna district as farm workers at sugarcane field.A number of youth have settled down as autorickshaw drivers in Hyderabad.While the people of Devarkonda, Chandhampeta, Bommalaramaram, Chinthapally and Nampally mandals migrated to Hyderabad, those in Narketpally, Munugode and Kattangoor mandals have moved to delta areas like Vuyyuru in Krishna district.Children's education is discontinured with parents moving to other places.A majority of the houses in villages are locked for months, but they are not worried about thieves because there is hardly anything valuable in there.Only old people are seen at these villages now as all the able-bodied have moved out.S Seenaiah, a resident of Dharveshpuram village in Kanagal mandal said he has five acres with two borewells."With lack of rains coupled with power cuts, I am not even getting back my investment.I faced a similar situation nine years ago.Now, I am going to Hyderabad with wife and two sons.One man offered me job as a watchman at an apartment." Nagilla Ramulu of Ismailpuram village in Kattangoor mandal has three acres of farm land."If there are rains village tank will be filled, underground water level will rise and borewells give out water.Since last year, there is no sufficient rain and also the power cut problem continued.I am unable to cultivate the three acres.I am going to another place with my two daughters and son."