Yeleru flood havoc caused by ‘Jagan-made mistake’:  Somireddy

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader and MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy has attributed the Yeleru flood havoc to the indifference of the previous YSRCP regime for setting aside the modernising the rivulet.
Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy described the Yeleru rivulet’s ravage as a ‘man-made mistake’ and ‘Jagan made mistake’. He accused the Jagan Reddy headed YSRCP regime for setting aside the modernizing the Yeleru rivulet in the name of ‘reverse tendering’.
“The officials’ high alertness and constant vigil and monitoring have avoided human loss due to Yeleru floods. Chandrababu Naidu spent time among the flood victims till the normalcy returned. Jagan Mohan Reddy has no moral right to criticize Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu,” Somireddy flayed.   He recalled that the Yeleru rivulet in Kakinada district received over 47,000 cusecs of water due to 15 mm of rainfall and the flood wreaked havoc in several mandals inundating residential colonies and crops to a large extent.
“In 2020 during the YSRCP regime, the Yeleru rivulet received 17,000 cusecs of water which inundated several villages. Now the same rivulet received over 47,000 cusecs of water but the devastation was minimized due to efficient steps taken by the government,” Somireddy claimed.
“In 2019, the TDP led regime had invited tenders for the modernization of Yeleru rivulet at a cost of Rs 292 crore. The tender process was completed and when the works were about to begin, the YSRCP came to power. It introduced a ‘reverse tendering’ system which halted the modernization works,” he lambasted.  The Jagan Reddy headed government had not tried to begin the Yeleru rivulet modernization works during its five year tenure, Somireddy, the former Agriculture minister lamented.
Somireddy ridiculed Jagan Reddy’s demand for President Rule in AP stating that the people of the state had given a clear mandate, restricting the YSRCP for only 11  MLA seats. The TDP MLA explained that during the 2014-19, the TDP regime had spent over Rs 63,000 crore on irrigation projects. But during 2019-24, the YSRCP government had spent only Rs 20,000 crore on the irrigation sector, he said, adding that it reflects how the YSRCP regime neglected the irrigation sector.
Somireddy ridiculed that the Irrigation Minister in the YSRCP regime confined himself to dancing to the cinema songs without focusing on irrigation projects. At the same time, the former Chief Minister was busy with playing Pubji games, he lambasted.
“By leading the relief operations in the flood ravaged areas, Chandrababu Naidu has emerged as a hero, a role model and exemplary. The nation has lauded Chandrababu Naidu on how he mitigated the flood havoc. The YSRCP leaders have no moral right to blame Chandrababu Naidu,” Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy made it clear.