The Congress on Sunday said it would soon come out with details of financial implications of the mega Water Grid project, which has been undertaken by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
“Do you know the cost of its maintenance once it comes into being,” questioned Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy as he dwelt upon the subject at the Rythu Bharosa Yatra public meeting at Ichoda.
Mr. Reddy wondered what made the government so enthusiastic about the project, the details of which were being kept secret.
“Experts say that the Water Grid project would cost Rs. 3,000 crore annually towards maintenance and this important bit of knowledge associated with the project is not in the public domain,” he objected.
The TPCC president was also severely critical of the government ignoring the issue of farmer suicides, which he said was a result of the crisis in the farm sector. He cited examples of farmers Wankidi Kalamma and Surkunta Sukender Reddy of Pochera village in Boath mandal who are yet to receive the ex gratia and benefits.
TPCC working president Mallu Batti Vikramarka warned the TRS leaders, including Minister Jagadeeshwar Reddy, of making statements undermining the efforts of the Congress in demanding succour for distressed farmers.
“It is you who are sucking the blood of farmers,” he retorted in response to a comment made by TRS leaders with regard to the Bharosa yatra held at Nalgonda.
The TPCC leaders including Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumanth Rao, CLP leader K. Jana Reddy, deputy leader T. Jeevan Reddy, MLA Ram Mohan Reddy, floor leader in Legislative Council Shabbir Ali, MLC Akula Lalitha, TPCC kisan wing president M. Kodand Reddy, District Congress Committee president A. Maheshwar Reddy and working president Naresh Jadhav, senior leaders P. Narsa Reddy, R. Damodar Reddy, C. Ramchander Reddy, G. Vinod and G. Arvind Reddy among others, visited a cotton field at Tejapur in Neredigonda mandal and interacted with farmers. They also called upon the families of farmers who committed suicide at Pochera in Boath mandal and handed over Rs. 1 lakh each as a measure of relief.
