*YSRCP slams neglect of Rayalaseema Lift Project*

Nellore, May 5: YSRCP leaders and farmers strongly criticized Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for prioritizing Amaravati over irrigation and farmer welfare, questioning how the government is willing to mobilize nearly Rs. 2 lakh crore for an impractical capital while claiming lack of funds to complete the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project, which is already about 90% complete. Speaking at a round table meeting held in Nellore under the leadership of Kakani Govardhan Reddy, leaders, farmers, and intellectuals accused the coalition government of systematically neglecting Rayalaseema’s water needs and sidelining critical irrigation infrastructure. They alleged that the project was deliberately halted to deny political credit to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and accused the government of compromising state interests for the benefit of Telangana leadership.

Leaders stated that Chandrababu Naidu has consistently shown indifference towards farmers and agriculture, with no record of completing irrigation projects or delivering water to fields, and instead focusing on renaming projects and diverting public funds. They condemned his remarks belittling the value of 20 TMC water from the Rayalaseema Lift as an insult to farmers and warned that continued neglect would push the region into severe water distress. They also alleged that Amaravati is being used as a financial conduit for large-scale expenditure while irrigation projects remain underfunded, pointing out that even a fraction of the capital expenditure could complete multiple irrigation projects benefiting lakhs of farmers.

The speakers highlighted that irrigation infrastructure in Nellore, including reservoirs like Somasila and Kandaleru, depends heavily on the completion of the Rayalaseema Lift scheme, describing it as a “lifeline” and “insurance” for farmers. They criticized the removal of names associated with leaders who contributed to irrigation development and alleged that governance is driven by political motives rather than public welfare. Concerns were also raised over rising state debt, alleging that borrowings have surged significantly within a short period while key sectors like irrigation remain neglected.

YSRCP leaders asserted that they will take the issue to every village, conduct awareness campaigns exposing what they termed as government failures, and mobilize farmers and the public to demand completion of the Rayalaseema Lift project. They warned that failure to act now would endanger the future of coming generations and reiterated that only sustained public pressure can force the government to prioritize irrigation and farmer welfare over capital-centric spending.

The meeting was attended by key leaders including Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Sake Sailajanath, Parvathareddy Chandrasekhar Reddy, Mekapati Vikram Reddy, Nedurumalli Ram Kumar Reddy, and Putha Sivashankar among others. Key speakers such as Kakani Govardhan Reddy, Sake Sailajanath, and Mekapati Vikram Reddy strongly articulated the urgency of completing the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project and called for a united struggle to protect farmers’ water rights.