Polavaram pride of Andhras: Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, unveiling a pylon at the Polavaram project site on Monday symbolising the inauguration of the diaphragm wall for the project, said that it was a major milestone in the efforts of his government to complete the project. “With people’s support, I am sure we will complete the project by December 2019,” he said.

Comparing Polavaram with Tirumala temple, Naidu said in a tweet later that his dream project was as sacrosanct as Lord Venkateswara's shrine on Tirumala hills. He asked the people to treat Polavaram project with same respect and devotion they show to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala.

At the project site, Naidu felicitated the staff who had been toiling hard in the race against time for completion of the project. "We have created history by completing the construction of diaphragm wall within 414 working days.

I am congratulating everyone who has lent his shoulder in completing it. We have already started reaching milestones in completing other irrigation projects in the state. We will complete all the projects sooner than later," he said.

Earlier speaking to media-persons at the site of Polavaram, he said that he had taken special interest in fast-tracking the project. “I have made virtual inspection and supervision of the project for 63 weeks,” he said, and lashed out at YSRC for speaking irresponsibly though he had been working overtime for the early execution of the project.

"The YSRC is trying to derail the project but no matter what the YSRC does, I will complete the project. It is my life ambition," he said. Naidu, complementing Navayuga Constructions for creating new records in constructing of the project, said the YSRC was making baseless allegations against the construction major. “Navayuga, in fact, had accepted the work at the prices agreed upon in the past,” he said.