Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday the good work done to sustain agriculture development by adopting Israeli technology such as drip and sprinkler irrigation modules during his earlier stint in office had been undone by the Congress government.
As a result, the TDP government, on coming to power again, had to galvanise the shelved technology to help farmers fight drought conditions, he said.
Addressing a public meeting at the Gudupalle mandal headquarters in Kuppam Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister, who arrived here on a two-day visit, observed that by considering the poor rainfall in the Kuppam region, he had introduced the drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in a big way, besides extending their scope to cover the entire State.
“The successive Congress governments have ridiculed my vision and completely ruined it,” Mr. Naidu said, and added: “Now, it is time to adopt the drip and sprinkler irrigation systems all over the State. The government has provided the required support to all the farmers, small and marginal, and Dalits.”
Mr. Naidu also criticised the Congress for “watering down” the schemes that were aimed at providing houses to the poor by indulging in huge corruption.
Mr. Naidu said the TDP government, on coming to power, had earmarked 12 lakh housing units to benefit the targeted segments, and the spectrum would be even more broader.
To promote usage of individual toilets and dispel the inhibitions on the maintenance cost, the government was planning to introduce free cleaning of septic tanks, he said.
Drug scandal
Referring to the drug scandal that rocked the Telugu film industry, he said opulence was always fraught with dangers and addiction to drugs was one among them.
“ The menace would not only scuttle the progress of the State but also create serious law and order problems,” he said.
He urged people to dial ‘1100’ to report instances of corruption.
Irrigation projects
The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to complete all irrigation and drinking water projects at the earliest.
“Water from the Handri-Neeva project will reach Chittoor district by September at any cost,” he asserted.
Heaping praise on the people of Kuppam for electing him continuously since 1989, Mr. Naidu said he would initiate steps to bring in revolutionary development in the region.
Earlier, Mr. Naidu inaugurated a government junior college at Gudupalle.
At the public meeting, he distributed assets worth over ₹40 crore among the beneficiaries of various welfare schemes.
Later, Mr. Naidu left for the Handri-Neeva Kuppam branch canal work site nearby to inspect the ongoing works.
After night halt in Kuppam, Mr. Naidu would resume the second-day of his tour on Friday.
Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Collector P.S. Pradyumna, SP S.V. Rajasekhar Babu, MLAs, and party functionaries were present.
