All India Kisan Sabha asks Centre to embrace environment protection measures

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over changes reported in rainfall patterns in recent years, the farmers' wing of CPI(M) today demanded Centre to embrace environment protection measures so that peasants across the country do not suffer due to erratic climatic conditions.

All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) demanded that the BJP-led NDA Government use technologies that can help predict rainfall pattern with more accuracy and educate farmers on cultivating crops in line with weather conditions.

The AIKS, which held its council meeting in Maharashtra's Vardha from July 10-12 to discuss present "agrarian crisis" in the country, also reiterated its demand that the Centre withdraw the land acquisition bill and reduce agricultural input costs.

"Indiscriminate industrialisation and deforestations have damaged environment severely. All this is creating problems like flood, excessive rains, untimely rain and drought.

"Government's policies have also contributed to the problem. It is the farmers who are at receiving end of all this. Hence, we demand the Government to take up environment protection measures," AIKS leader Hannan Mollah told PTI.

He further said untimely showers reported two months ago had damaged crop over an area of two crore hectares.

To tackle such "huge" losses, Centre should ensure industries become environment-friendly and that there is reduction in emission of greenhouse gases, the CPI(M) politburo member said.

Terming land acquisition bill as "pro-corporate", Mollah said that the bill needs to be withdrawn.

AIKS will hold nationwide campaign over the issues between August 16 and August 31 and culminate it into Demands Day on September 1," he added.