Padayatra launched for dam construction

Kurnool: Demanding the construction of Siddeswaram-Alugu project across the Krishna river, the farmers led by Rayalaseema Saguneeti Sadhana Samithi (RSSS) started four-day padayatra under the name of Siddeswaram Praja Padayatra from Nandyal town on Tuesday.

The yatra will cover several villages in Nandyal, Nandikotkur and Srisailam Assembly segments and concludes at project site where the government has proposed to construct it 68 years ago. RSSS president Bojja Dasaratha Rami Reddy speaking to media has said that the farmers of Rayalaseema are forced to end their lives or migrate to faraway places due to lack of water for the crops.

He asked the government to construct Dummugudem-Nagarjunasagar tail pond project to extend water to Nagarjuna Sagar ayacut thereby extending Srisaialam water to Rayalaseema region, said Dasaratha Rami Reddy.

Recalling the Sri Bagh pact, Reddy demanded to construct either State capital or High Court in Kurnool. He also asked to make Amaravati as free zone besides setting up of medical and educational institutions and factories at Kurnool. For the utilisation of Tungabhadra river and flood waters, he asked the government to hold dialogue with the Karnataka government for the construction of parallel canals.