YS Jagan condemns remarks on RLI

Tadepalli, Jan 8: Terming Chandrababu as a betrayer who places self-interest ahead of people’s interest, former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gave a detailed narrative on how all sections of people are taken for a ride and the blatant lies on the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation (RLI) scheme, which have hurt the sentiments of the region.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy gave a blow-by-blow account of the misdeeds of Chandrababu and his propaganda machinery, besides credit chori, rampant corruption, gross financial indiscipline, and vehement opposition to the RLI, while enabling neighbouring Telangana to draw more than its due share of water only to get away from the cash-for-vote case, in which his audio and video records were in the open.
The remarks of the Chief Minister and his Irrigation Minister that RLI is a waste only show how characterless they are in betraying the people of Rayalaseema, and this was endorsed by the Telangana Chief Minister on the floor of the House, which stands as a testimony to the betrayal.
It was during Chandrababu’s term that the Telangana government either built or expanded existing infrastructure to draw and store more water from the Srisailam project. The neighbouring state has been drawing water through lift and powerhouse operations and has been drawing 8 TMC of water on a daily basis from the 777 to 825 feet level of Srisailam.
In such a situation, Andhra Pradesh has no chance of getting water as the Srisailam water level would not rise to the requirement of the State. The only way was the RLI project, which aims to draw 3 TMC of water at the 800 feet level from Srisailam.
Chandrababu’s betrayal began by influencing his cadre to file cases in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the project. On the other hand, the Telangana government ignored all notices from the NGT and went ahead with new projects and expansion of existing ones from Kalwakurthy to Dindi. Chandrababu, on his part, did not respond to the NGT during its three meetings, which shows his indifference.
Even Nagarjuna Sagar project controls were with the neighbouring state until we intervened. It was only during our term that we ensured all reservoirs reached their full capacity. We took corrective measures by increasing the capacity of GNNS, completed Owk tunnels, and filled Gandikota, Chitravati, and other reservoirs to serve the interests of the Rayalaseema region, Nellore, and parts of Prakasam districts.
Chandrababu, on his part, allotted contracts without bids for kickbacks.
On Bhogapuram airport, he resorted to credit chori, as we had done all the spade work and obtained the required permissions, he said.
The propaganda that industries moved away from the State during our term is totally false. Sajjan Jindal, Aurobindo, Dalmia, Sriridi Sai, and others were driven out by the coalition, unable to bear the scale of commissions and harassment. There has been false propaganda on investments, industries, and jobs, while the numbers are clearly in favour of our government. Prime land has been given away to real estate companies for a pittance, and in some cases, subsidies were also given. The Lulu Group paid the full value for acquiring land in Ahmedabad for building a mall, while it got land here at a nominal rate.
All sections of people are unhappy with the coalition—farmers, students, women, the unemployed, and employees—as they are being cheated. Chandrababu, who promised there would be no hike in power tariffs, has increased charges by Rs 20,135 crores. Registration fees have been hiked, road cess, toll gates, and all charges have been increased, but the State is not getting the revenue, which shows the level of corruption. From land to sand to liquor, gambling, and ration mafia, commissions are rampant from top to bottom.
During our term, we raised Rs 3.32 lakh crore in five years and gave Rs 2.73 lakh crore through DBT, while Chandrababu, in less than two terms, has raised Rs 3.02 lakh crore, with no accountability on where the money has gone.
While we followed a welfare calendar, Chandrababu is maintaining a loan calendar. Defending the move of approaching the court on the privatisation of medical colleges, he said the one crore signatures represent the voice of the people and a public mandate, which should be taken to its logical conclusion.