Indebted to Pulivendula: CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Kadapa: Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday laid foundation stone for several developmental projects worth Rs 5,000 crore as part of his visit to the district. Speaking at a public meeting on the occasion, the Chief Minister said he will be forever indebted to Pulivendula.

The Chief Minister laid foundation for the RTC bus stand, depot to be constructed at a cost of Rs 34.20 crore, along with a new building for BC welfare girls residential school and other developmental works of local temples. Also, a foundation stone was laid for the 76 new BT roads which are being undertaken under the Pulivendula Area Development Authority, Gandikota-CBR, Gandikota-Paidipalem lift scheme, and for the construction of four model police stations.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the projects initiated in 2019 have been progressing well, where the works of YSR Government Medical College will take off from February. He said that the works of 132 KV substation in Nallacheruvupalle village were underway and promised to start the irrigation and drinking water works in uranium-affected villages at the earliest. Besides these, additional buildings will be constructed at the JNTU Engineering College and a new building for Vempalle Degree Colleges will also be established. Further, the bed capacity of the community hospital in Vempalli will be increased from 30 to 50. The Chief Minister stated that 18 new temples will be constructed alongside the development of 51 existing temples and the works of integrated sports complex are underway in Pulivendula.

He said that the lift irrigation works on Gandikota reservoir will start in March and micro-irrigation works worth Rs 1,256 crore will be executed. He said that it was hard to maintain the full capacity water level of Srisailam barrage in order to take water through Pothireddypadu. In the last 15 years, full water at Srisailam was seen for only about 20-25 days. The previous government failed to provide R&R (rehabilitation and resettlement) for Gandikota and thus the reservoir was never filled to its full capacity of 26 tmc ft. The state government had paid Rs 665 crore for rehabilitation and filled the reservoir with 26.85 tmc ft water. Similarly, for Chitravathi reservoir, the state government paid Rs 247 crore under R&R and filled it with 10.13 tmc ft of water. The Chief Minister directed the authorities to resolve the R&R problems of the displaced families Gandikota and Chitravati projects.