Leader of Opposition and YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has alleged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is trying to link Rayalaseema projects with Pattiseema only to defame him and not in the interests of people of that region.
“Not a single drop of water from Pattiseema will irrigate even a small part of Rayalaseema,” he said at a Racchabanda (interaction) with farmers at Pattisam village in West Godavari on Wednesday.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy launched his three-day bus yatra along with his party MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders from Dowleswaram barrage after garlanding the statues of Sir Arthur Cotton and Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy in the morning. MPs Mithun Reddy and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, Deputy Floor Leader of YSRC in Assembly Jyothula Nehru, former Minister Kotthapalli Subbarayudu and others joined the bus yatra.
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While addressing ‘Racchabanda’, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that Mr. Chandrababu Naidu was not having any affection or concern towards people of Rayalaseema as it was proved in the allocations made for different lift irrigation projects in Rayalaseema in the budget.
He recalled that Pothireddypadu head regulator project works were not yet launched after TDP government came to power and Galeru-Nagari project which required Rs.2,600 crore got just Rs.17 crore in nine years of Chandrababu’s rule.
Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy alleged that the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues had not allowed any other contractors, except two to bid for Pattiseema.
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The Opposition leader warned that people would not forgive the Chief Minister if Polavaram project was not completed as per schedule. The project could store 194 tmc of water and there would ensure water for second crop in East and West Godavari, Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts and also for drinking water and industrial needs.
He reminded that as per Clause 7 (E) and (F) of Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal, Karnataka and Maharashtra could take 35 tmcft and also claim an equal share in the flood water.