Pulivendula (YSR Kadapa dist), Dec 26: Demanding the TDP government to complete all pending projects and release waters to Gandikota and Chitravathi in full capacity, Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that Chandrababu Naidu is more inclined towards monetary aspects than that of farmers’ issues. Speaking at a dharna at the Mandal Revenue Office to protest against the anti-farmer policies of TDP government here on Monday he said;’ we demand that all the pending projects should be immediately completed and the main reservoirs of the region should get water in the full capacity.
Chandrababu Naidu during his previous term had released meager funds to Galeru-Nagari and Handri-Neva projects but it was YSR who had released Rs. 4,000 crores each to the two projects to turn the arid region into a lush zone and has completed 80 % of the works during his tenure.
It has been three years since Chandrababu Naidu has taken over and no sufficient funds were allocated to complete the remaining 20 % works as his priority lies in laying foundation stones and not releasing funds nor completing the works. His main agenda is to garner money and has no concern for farmers.
He has spent Rs 1,600 crores for Pattiseema project and has given publicity that water has been taken to Rayalaseema while in reality the water has been going down the drain from Prakasam Barrage to Bay of Bengal and not a drop has come to the Rayalaseema. TDP government has stopped releasing water to Chitravathi and the water released have been drained up in transit with over 60 % losses and the farmers are left in the lurch.
While the capacity of Chitravathi is 10 TMC, the State has released only 3.2 TMC that too in two phases and only 40 to 45 % of the water reached the intended destination. The state has stopped releasing water to Chitravathi from December 22.
The dream of YSR to bring water to Pulivendula could not be fulfilled as the Gandikota project was not fulfilled, he said. As Tungabhadra waters are not sufficient, the only way is to get water from Krishna which would have become a reality had the twin projects of Galeru-Nagari and Handri-Neva were completed.
Though the banks have given only Rs 4,700 crores as loan in place of the earmarked Rs24, 000 crore crop loan and Rs 10,000 term loans, it is surprising that the Chief Minister has expressed satisfaction over the loan disbursement. This shows that he has no concern for farmers. ‘We demand that all pending projects should be completed and water should be provided to full capacity to Chitravathi, Gandikota and other projects,’ he said.
Naidu has no moral right talk on irrigation
