Uma Maheswara Rao blames YSRCP for delay in Polavaram works

Amaravati: Former minister and TDP leader Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao on Monday accused the TSRCP government of pushing the Polavaram irrigation project into uncertainty by pursuing impractical and illogical policies for the execution of the works.

Uma Maheswara Rao said that the Jagan government was now making all efforts to cover up its inefficiency and failures by misusing police force to prevent the opposition leaders from visiting the dam site. Over 72 per cent works were completed under the dynamic leadership of former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu but the YSRCP ministers and MPs were spreading falsehoods that only 30 to 40 per cent works were finished.

Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader asked the Chief Minister how he had promised to get gates fixed on the dam by this November itself if the previous government did not complete 72 per cent works as per its allegations. "The YSRCP should not think of undermining Polavaram by reducing the dam height. All opposition parties along with the TDP will wage a united battle till the dam is constructed up to the original 150 ft height as planned. Only then, it will be possible to store 194 tmc ft water while at the same time supplying another 350 tmc ft to all the 13 districts through canal systems," he said.

The former irrigation minister launched a scathing attack on YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy, saying that a multi-purpose, national project like Polavaram can be achieved with commitment and determination but not politically motivated, cheap tricks and tweets. It was only during Naidu's five rule that Rs 11,537 crore was spent on Polavaram whereas, only Rs 5,135 crore was spent from 1941 to 2014.