CPI(M) Central Committee member M.A. Gafoor charged the Central and State Governments on Tuesday with failing to fulfil the promises made during the bifurcation of the State to grant a special development package for Rayalaseema, set up a steel plant in Kadapa and complete irrigation projects in the region.
Claiming the support of all political parties and the public for the Left-sponsored Rayalaseema bandh on May 24, Mr. Gafoor said the Centre promised a special development package for Rayalaseema on the lines of Bundelkhand, but merely granted ₹50 crore each to the four Rayalaseema districts for two years.
Steel plant
The steel plant in Kadapa would generate direct and indirect employment to 10,000 persons besides resulting in setting up of ancillary industries, but Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu lacked sincerity and was not pressing for it, he remarked.
Mr. Chandrababu Naidu promised construction of Gundrevula project in his Independence Day address in Kurnool in August 2014, but never made efforts to have a dialogue with Telangana on the inter-State project, Mr. Gafoor said. The Gundrevula project was a lifeline to cater to the drinking water needs of Kurnool city. In fact, the city would be in the grip of a severe water crisis if there was no rainfall in the next fortnight. The promise to take up Vedavati project remained unfulfilled, he said.
