Former Minister and YSRCP State general secretary Dharmana Prasada Rao on Monday asked the State government to hold talks with the Odisha government for early construction of the Neradi barrage across the Vamsadhara river to irrigate over two lakh acres in the backward Srikakulam district.
He also urged the government to get clearances from the Union government for taking up the project on a war footing. Mr. Prasada Rao, former Minister Tammineni Sitaram, YSRCP district president, Reddi Shanti and other leaders participated in the ‘Chalo Neradi’ programme and addressed a public meeting near Katragadda in Bhamini mandal. Mr. Prasada Rao alleged that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was trying to get the credit for the Vamsadhara phase-2 although the funds were allocated during the regime of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. He said the Vamsadhara phase-2 was taken up in anticipation of the clearances from the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal.
“The Neradi barrage helps store over 20 tmcft of water and it would provide water for irrigation and drinking purpose to many mandals including Bhamini and Kotturu. It is the right time to hold talks with the Odisha government since it is also a stakeholder in the utilisation of water stored with the construction of the barrage. All clearances are to be taken immediately since the Tribunal had given a categorical order for construction of the barrage which was proposed in 1962 itself,” Mr. Prasada Rao said.
Raw deal
Mr. Sitaram alleged that the Srikakulam district was getting step-motherly treatment in the allocation of funds. He feared that many more people would migrate to other places due to poor progress in the district. He asked the government to come out with its action plan in utilisation of water and completion of the on-going projects.
Ms. Reddi Shanti expressed concern over demolition of houses of the Vamsadhara displaced families even before the construction of colonies. She hoped that those families would get justice when the YSR Congress Party would come to power in the State.
