‘Pattiseema project in six months’

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Wednesday said Pattiseema project would completed in six months. Mr. Naidu, who flew to Puattaparthy airport from Hyderabad in a special flight arrived, was received by IT Minister Palle Raghnuatha Reddy, who later accompanied the CM in a helicopter from Puttaparthy to Gotluru of Dharmavaram constituency, where the latter participated in the ‘Janmabhoomi Maa Vooru’ programme.

Addressing a meeting, he said that the government was committed to its promise of driving away drought from the Rayalseema districts, adding that the Pattiseema project would ensure supply of irrigation water to the parched districts.

“If we can grow horticulture crops in five lakh acres in Anantapur district, using drip irrigation, sprinklers and other forms of micro irrigation, drought can be wiped away from here for sure,” said Mr Naidu, even as he said that the government had planned to plant sixty lakh saplings in the district to ensure adequate greenery and better water conservation.

He appealed to the farmers to avail of the heavy subsidy of ninety per cent being provided by the government on drip and sprinkler irrigation equipment.

“Even if, it means that a little portion of faromers’ land is used for rain water harvesting, it will make sure that the ground water table is maintained,” said Mr Naidu.

Commenting the ' Samara Deeksha' being held by the YSRC President and Leader of Opposition Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, he said that he couldn't understand as to why Mr. Jaganmohan was protesting. Further, he charged the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leadership with playing a devious game and buying over his party MLAs for winning the MLC elections.

“The TRS is deliberately creating problems,” he said.

Mr. Naidu wanted the present secret ballot system for election of MLCs to be done away with as it was giving scope for corrupt practices. Instead, the seats in the Elders’ House should be allocated on the basis of the strength of the respective political parties in the House. The TDP, he said, would approach the election commission in this direction and seek remedial measures.

The present secret ballot system for MLC polls should be done away with as it is giving scope for corrupt practices.

N. Chandrababu Naidu,

Chief Minister