State neglecting Polavaram: YS Jagan

Polavaram (West Godavari dist), Leader of Opposition YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that the State government policies have been apprehensive on the completion of irrigation projects and the future of Polavaram looks bleak with the taking up of Pattiseema project which run parallel to each other. 

On the opening day of the three-day “Projects Bata” after interacting with farmers and officials here on Wednesday, he said: “the way Pattiseema project is taken up in a hurry makes the intention of the State very clear and it wants to make Polavaram redundant.”

While the project needs Rs 16,000 crores, YSR has sanctioned Rs 4,000 crores and the officials tell me that during the past 11 months only Rs 100 crores was released. This apathy makes it clear that the State wants to push it in cold storage. The State has already released amount for the Pattiseema project and 16.9 % excess was quoted in the tenders. The excess percentage is justified by the Chief Minister describing it as bonus for completing the work within one year. While the tenders were called for completing the works in one year, where does the question of bonus come from is beyond comprehension.

Chandrababu Naidu has been changing tunes on the completion of Polavaram project. During electioneering he said it will be completed in three years which was mentioned in the manifesto as well but has changed the term to four years and is now telling that it will be completed in five years. The 16,000 crore project, to be completed in four years needs funds of Rs 4,000 crores but only Rs 100 crores was released which shows the sincerity of the State, “he said. 

When officials said that there was no clarity on the R & R package, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asked how Pattiseema project could the report in just two days. “It is very clear that the State is inclined towards Pattiseema and we have to question the irregularities the project is steeped in from the bids stage itself,” said. The State paid compensation at an agreed price to farmers in two days while when it came to Polavaram the R & R package was not clear as the State has no intention to complete it, he said. The version of State about floods to Godavari did not stand as it was made clear that the period of floods would be not be more than 90 days.  

Earlier, he visited the Dowlaswaram barrage and paid floral tributes to Sir Arthur Cotton and YSR besides interacting with farmers’ union leaders and officials. He will visit Krishan barrage and interact with farmers on Thursday and Friday.