Will review the works of Veligonda project every month: CM Chandrababu

Ongole: The chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu started his two day tour in Prakasam district in the afternoon of Thursday. 

The cheif minister landed in helicopter at Veligonda project along with irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and inspected the works going on. He interacted with the officials and engineers and ordered them to complete the project works as soon as possible so that the government can release the water to the drought affected western Prakasam district in early months of next year.

Chandrababu Naidu said that it takes about 15 to 20 days to repair the damaged tunnel belt and restart the boring works. He assured that five of the seven packages will be completed by February 2019. He said that the works of Rs 4532 crores in the Rs 5564 crores budget of the project are completed and about Rs 650 crores funds are due from the government. He assured that the state government will take up Veligonda project on priority basis and will complete it as announced at any cost. He said that the government will lift the water to western area of the Prakasam district, if the 3km of the first tunnel is not complete by February, to keep the promise. 

As part of the tour, the chief minister along with the district collector Vadarevu Vinay Chand and MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy is proceeded to Degaramudi village in Martur mandal of the Parchur assembly constituency to participate in the Gramadarsini program and lay foundation stones for various development works and inaugurate the already completed. He will participate in the public meeting at agriculture market yard in Martur in the afternoon.

In the public meeting, the Chandrababu Naidu is expected to respond to the demands from Subabul, Jamail and social forestry farmers to see the companies purchase wood at Rs 4500 for Subabul and Rs 4700 for Jamail. He is also expected to make confirmation of the establishment of Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam University in Ongole, by upgrading the existing PG Centre of Acharya Nagarjuna University. The chief minister is also expected to give clarity on the foundation for the Ramayapatnam port and irrigation water for the Nagarjuna Sagar canal ayacut farmers. He is expected to respond on the demand of farmers on the release of  drought relief, as has become months even after the central government committee visited the 44mandals of drought affected mandals in the district. 

The public is expecting the chief minister to respond on the announced industries at Donakonda Mega Industrial Hub and the paper manufacturing industry at Parchur, which is said to provide direct and indirect employment for 12000 people. 

After participating in the public meeting, the chief minister will reach Ongole and participate in the Telugu Desam Party leaders meeting in the evening. He will review the party situation in the district with the ministers, MLAs, MLCs and discuss the issues bothering them.The TDP president will participate in party cadre meeting in Ongole on Friday after conducting a review meeting with local officials.

In the meetings with the party, the TDP president is expected to clear the disturbances and misunderstandings between the Kondepi and Santhanutalapadu MLAs and local leaders. 

He is also expected to respond to the demand of TDP vice president and MLC Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy to change the sitting MLAs and incharges at Kondepi, Kanigiri and Markapuram. Magunta is suggesting the party leadership to appoint new incharges for Yerragondapalem, Kanigiri, Markapuram and Giddalur constituencies where the YSRCP is said to be strong. The TDP president is expected to respond to the suggestion as the defected MLAs from YSRCP are said to be unable to go in hand in hand with the existing and local TDP leadership. 

The local party leadership is going to convey Chandrababu Naidu about the party in the district and may demand their president to take a decision on positions to BCs. The leaders are in opinion that majority of the Kapu and Yadavas in the district are in favour of YSRCP, and requesting their president to offer them political positions to make them biased towards TDP and Chandrababu Naidu is expected to take a decision on it in this tour.