PNS | Vijayawada
In the midst of a debate over the allocation of funds for project maintenance, TDP leader Chandrababu Naidu raised questions on Tuesday about Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decision to assign tenders worth Rs 8,000 crore to Minister Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy.
Naidu emphasised that optimising the utilisation of the waters from five major rivers – Krishna, Godavari, Pennar, Vamsadhara, and Nagavali – could potentially transform the entire State into fertile land. He pointed out the advantageous gravitational proximity of the oceans to the land, making it feasible to efficiently lift and distribute water across the region.
Highlighting the TDP’s commitment to the irrigation sector and project construction during their tenure from 2014 to 2019, Naidu underscored that the previous government had demonstrated a strong determination to overcome challenges and complete projects with the primary goal of providing water to the entire State. Contrasting the budget allocations, Naidu noted that the TDP administration had dedicated 9.63 percent of total budget estimates to irrigation, whereas the current government has allocated a mere 2.35 percent, reflecting a shift in priorities.
Chandrababu Naidu also pointed to the accelerated progress achieved during the TDP’s tenure on the Polavaram project, thanks to the collaboration with national-level engineering experts and IIT professionals. He emphasised that substantial progress, amounting to 72 per cent of the project’s completion, was attained during that time.
However, Chandrababu Naidu criticised the present government for not fully utilising the funds provided by the Centre for the Polavaram project, suggesting that political motives led to restricting the project’s height to 41.15 m.
Referring to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s recent statement, Chandrababu Naidu reminded that the Chief Minister had acknowledged challenges in completing the project and deferred the decision to the Centre.
Undaunted by threats, Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed his commitment to the State’s welfare and vowed not to be deterred by such challenges.
