Maha hurdle to Polavaram: YSR

[koustubbhargav]

By Abhimaan Kashyap

East Godavari: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Sunday dared the Mahakutami to spell out its stand on major irrigation project Polavaram (Indirasagar) issue saying the TDP and Left parties created hurdles in the completion of the project.

 

Addressing public meetings in Gollala Mamidala and Mummidavaram, Rajasekhara Reddy said, “Naidu harped on Vision 2020 without any vision on improving irrigation. We don't have a vision for 20 years but our five-year vision amplifies our plan on executing Polavaram and other projects.”

 

The chief minister assured that despite the hurdles, the Congress party, if voted to power, would complete the project in three years. The chief minister remarked that despite being in power for nine years, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu did not pay attention for getting clearance to pending irrigation projects.

Rajasekhara Reddy said the clearances secured in the shortest possible time spoke volumes about the Congress government’s commitment to complete the project. “If Polavaram project was completed by this time, we could have saved 11 lakh acres of ayacut in the Godavari delta,” he said. 

The chief minister said the project, which would irrigate 7.2 lakh acres utilising 273 tmcft, serves the interests of crores of people in the three regions. The project, he said, will be a great boon to the Godavari districts and the north-coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.  Rajasekhara Reddy said the project will ensure water to 540 villages benefiting 28.5 lakh people, besides providing 23.5 tmcft for industry, he added.

Turning his guns on Naidu, he said people were no longer willing to believe the words of the former chief minister as he had failed to fulfill the promises he made during his regime. “People are wise enough to know Naidu’s true colours and he can’t cheat them any longer,” he said. Calling Praja Rajyam Party a ‘gandhargola rajyam’ , he said the train has lost its track and the party lacked both vision and mission.

He listed out the welfare schemes implemented by the Congress government-- waiver of farm loans and electricity bills, free power to ryots, introduction of Rs 2-a-kg and providing 100 days work under NREGS.  Rajasekhara Reddy assured that the Congress party, if voted to power, would increase Rs 2-a-kg rice quota from 20kg to 30 kg and free power to ryots from seven to nine hours.