PCC chief sees corruption in irrigation projects

Challenges Telugu Desam government to debate on the issue

February 28, 2017 08:29 am | Updated 08:29 am IST - VIJAYAWADA

On the offensive:  PCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Monday.

On the offensive: PCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Raghuveera Reddy on Monday alleged rampant corruption in several ongoing irrigation projects and the costs were increased indiscriminately to favour contractors.

Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said the estimated cost of seven ongoing projects saw a cumulative increase of ₹40,154 crore. “These seven projects were estimated at ₹34,057 crore in 2014 but the revised estimates in 2016 projected a phenomenal increase of ₹ 74, 154 crore.”

He said all the existing irrigation projects like Dowleswaram, Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, Prakasam Barrage, Pulichintala and others were built during the Congress regime and 75 per cent of present projects like Telugu Ganga, Galeru Nagiri, Handri-Neeva and others were completed.

“The present Telugu Desam government is not able to complete these projects even after three years of rule. “I challenge the government for a discussion. Let us visit the project sites and have a discussion with the irrigation experts. We will prove government’s inflated estimates are wrong,” said the PCC chief.

He said the TDP government failed on all fronts and did not fulfil the election promises. “TDP let BCs, SCs, STs and minorities down. It promised to give BC status to rajakas and today it used police force to quell their voice and arrested all the protesters.”

He accused the TDP of playing divide and rule policy by stoking ill-will between kapus and backward classes.

Mr. Reddy said Congress Kisan cell members under the leadership of Tulasi Reddy chalked out an action plan to support the aggrieved farming community.

Drought

“The government has failed to meet the drought situation. Agriculture labourers are migrating and cattle are transported to slaughter houses. The farmers are not given input subsidy and insurance for the past three years,” he said.

Mr. Reddy said the neighbouring Karnataka government was swift to get the central aid of ₹17,000 crore by reacting to drought situation but on the other hand, the globe-trotting Chief Minister’s delay in presenting the report to Centre has led to delay in getting aid.”

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