Centre must bear Polavaram expenses

Vijayawada: Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi convener Kolanukonda Sivaji, YSRCP leader and former MLA Malladi Vishnu, AP Rytu Sangham president Y Kesava Rao and other leaders on Saturday met the Parliamentary Standing Committee chairman Hukum Singh (MP) and other members (water resources) at a hotel here and demanded that the Central government should bear expenses for construction of the Polavaram Project.

Highlights:

• Representatives of Krishna Delta Parirakshana Samithi meet members of Parliamentary Standing Committee and point out that Polavaram is a vital project
• It will help store Godavari water and use it for drinking and irrigation needs

Sivaji, Malladi Vishnu and other leaders have explained the financial status of the State government to the visiting delegation and sought financial help from the Union government to complete the Polavaram Project.

They said Polavaram Project is very important for Andhra Pradesh as Godavari water can be stored and used properly.
They said the latest budget estimates for construction of Polavaram Project had crossed Rs 40,000 crore but the Central government had announced that it would sanction only Rs 16,000 crore.

They told the delegation that two-and-half months have already passed in this kharif season but reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh have less than 25 per cent water which is not sufficient to meet the requirements of farmers.

They pointed out that the Union government failed to accord Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh and funds for the development of backward regions of north Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts.

They said the AP government was facing burden of increasing loans and needs support from the Central government.
They pointed out that the Central government granted Rs 20,000 crore for cleaning River Ganga but was not showing interest on the development of Andhra Pradesh and completing the Polavaram Project.