The allocation of Major Irrigation portfolio to Krishna district MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao is a shot in the arm for Krishna delta farmers.
Farmers feared that the worst is in store for them after bifurcation, but they are relieved to some extent that the important Irrigation portfolio has been given to Mr. Umamaheswara Rao of the district.
More importantly, Umamaheswara Rao is seen as a fighter. The farmers feel that a leader like him is needed to counter the “vociferous’ Chief Minister of Telangana.
Important portfolios have been, of late, eluding even senior leaders of the district. The Congress had given the all-important Education portfolio to Mandali Venkatakrishna Rao and afterhim, Koneru Ranga Rao was given the Deputy Chief Minister’s post.
Founder of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N. T. Rama Rao became Chief Minister in 1983. But, after the Congress came back to power, Mr. Ranga Rao got the important portfolio of Municipal Administration and Urban Development. The remaining Cabinet members from the district held relatively lesser portfolios like animal husbandry, fisheries, secondary or technical education and excise.
Former Minister and Avanigadda MLA Mandali Buddha Prasad said the State Government had doubly reassured the delta farmers by selecting Krishna district MLA as Irrigation Minister. The farmers were really worried if water would be released in time in the light of bifurcation, he said.
Kisan Services Association district general secretary P. S. R. Das said the farmers were pinning their hopes on Mr. Umamaheswara Rao for immediate completion of Krishna delta modernisation and Pulichintala project and monitoring the progress and completion of the Polavaram Project.
Farmers hope that delta modernisation would be completed soon because Mr. Umamaheswara Rao had all through kept a close watch on the works bringing to limelight several irregularities and scams.
