YSRCP demands Chandrababu’s reply on RLI

Anantapur, Jan 5: YSRCP sharpened its attack on Chandrababu Naidu on the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation (RLI) project following the statement of the Telangana Chief Minister on the floor of the House and demanded an immediate response from the coalition government.
Speaking to the media here on Monday, former minister Sake Sailajanath said the statement made by Revanth Reddy in the Telangana Assembly raises serious concerns for the people of Rayalaseema and Chandrababu Naidu should categorically state his stand. He said it was YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who initiated the RLI project with an outlay of Rs 7,000 crore.
Though Chandrababu’s whereabouts are not known, he should explain the government’s version on Revanth Reddy’s statement that the RLI project was stopped after a deal was struck between the two Chief Ministers.
Sailajanath said Chandrababu has always prioritised Amaravati over Rayalaseema and neglected the region by diverting key institutions such as AIIMS, the Steel Plant and the High Court to Amaravati. He alleged that irrigation contracts were given to favoured contractors for kickbacks without considering feasibility.
He said YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy always stood for farmers’ welfare and initiated several irrigation projects, many of which were stalled by the coalition government despite being near completion. The Velugonda project was taken up seriously by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy but was obstructed by the coalition.
The Handri-Neeva project, originally designed for 40 TMC, was reduced to just a 5 TMC drinking water project, clearly exposing Chandrababu’s priorities, he said.