Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru) has demanded that the government scrap the Pattiseema lift irrigation project tenders and instead focus on completing the Polavaram project, which is the lifeline of Krishna delta.
Branding the Pattiseema project as a sheer waste of time and money, Mr. Rajasekhar said only contractors would benefit from the project.
“The government has approved tenders at 22 per cent excess cost, escalating the total project cost to nearly Rs. 2,000 crore from Rs. 1,300 crore. The government claims to complete the project in two years, but it is not possible as there are several hurdles in West Godavari and Krishna districts,” he said.
Technically, too, the project will not serve much purpose.
While Polavaram is a reservoir, Pattiseema is a lift irrigation project. Water has to be drawn through lift irrigation only during Godavari floods, but even this will not be possible in case Krishna floods occur at the same time, he added.
Hunger strike
Meanwhile, the APCC has decided to exert pressure on the Centre for according special status to the State and implementing other provisions in the A.P. Reorganisation Act.
The party will observe a relay hunger strike at the Sub-Collector’s office from March 16 to 20, said DCC president Kadiyala Buchibabu.
City Congress president Malladi Vishnu alleged that the government had betrayed people of Vijayawada yet again, as there were no allocations for various pending projects like Kanakadurga flyover in the budget.
Coalgate
The APCC also wanted the Centre to withdraw the summons issued to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in connection with the Coalgate scam.
“The former Prime Minister is known for his honesty, and issuing summons to him was nothing but assassinating his character. The party will take the legal course to stand by him,” APCC spokesperson Kolanukonda Sivaji said.