Chandrababu Naidu to release drinking water from Siddeswaram LI on Jan 7

Atmakur (Kurnool): While conceding that he had selfish interest in the early launch of the Siddeswaram Lift Irrigation Project, Srisailam MLA Budda Rajasekhara Reddy stated here on Thursday that his resolve should be treated as reply to his critics.

He delivered a hard-hitting speech, while inviting people to come for the project’s inauguration on January 7, when Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu would release drinking water from the project. Addressing the fifth phase of the Janmabhoomi programme in the fifth division of the town, Reddy stated that the project would solve the irrigation problems of Atmakur farmers pending for 30 years and that it was the result of many agitations.

The MLA maintained that the supply of irrigation water to 25,000 acres from the project was his reply to the critics, who had attacked him for switching over from YSRCP to TDP. He claimed that within one year of joining the yellow party he had ensured release of Rs 60 crore for the project so as to complete it.

Reddy challenged the previous MLAs to give details of their contribution of funds and the development works taken up in the constituency. He asserted that his father Budda Vengal Reddy, who remained in TDP for 30 years, and brothers MLAs Budda Sivarami Reddy and Sesha Reddy had consistently striven for the project’s completion.

The MLA stated that he would be inaugurating the project with the blessings of the constituents. He declared that people’s welfare, arranging irrigation water for farmers and ensuring welfare schemes reach every house were his ‘selfish motives’.