Government flayed for delay in irrigation projects

Nellore: The Dasa-Disa programme organised by HMTV at Hotel Harita here on Saturday witnessed a heated debate on pending irrigation projects among leaders of different political parties. CEO of hmtv G Srinivasa Reddy raised the issue of status of irrigation projects in the district and all parties other than TDP and BJP swiftly reacted on the issue and started blame game.

Congress leader Ch Devakumar Reddy who initiated the debate said that the Congress party was instrumental in providing huge volume of water for irrigation purpose in Nellore district. Former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy allocated Rs 1,500 crore for Somasila High Level Canal, he pointed out. However, the subsequent government made no efforts to complete it. He also said the Congress government started Nellore and Sangam barrages, but there has been no progress of works under the current regime.

Reacting to the statement of Devakumar Reddy, YSR Congress leader Ch Subba Reddy said though Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government had started majority projects they were not completed and many upland areas are still facing fluoride problem. He alleged that the present irrigation schemes were meant for TDP workers for minting money. CPM district secretary Ch Rajagopal said only 20 mandals in delta area have been benefited and more than 25 upland mandals were facing scarcity of water.

Marripadu, SR Puram, Duttaluru and others are having fluoride problem and Somasila high level canal is the solution for redeeming local people from all distresses. He alleged huge corruption in irrigation projects in the district. Even as the district is producing 30 lakh puttis of paddy there has been no solace to farmers, he regretted. He demanded resumption of the levy system. CPI leader Prabhakar said even though 75,000 acres were acquired from the farmers for industrial needs still more than 50,000 acres are left unused. No employment was provided to the kin of the farmers who gave fertile lands, he pointed out.

BJP Nellore district president P Surendra Reddy said many people from the district were in top position but they failed to focus on development of the district and present Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu was the only person who brought highways, and many other projects to Nellore. However, his comments led to an uproar at the meeting as leaders of the other parties raised and pointed out that entire Andhra Pradesh has 6-lane roads except Nellore which has only a 4-lane highway. Chairman of the Somasila Project Committee Rapuru Sundararami Reddy faced ire from the audience as he failed to produce information supported by statistics.

He said River Pennar is not a perennial river and the district has been facing severe drought like conditions for the last 2-3 years and hence inflows were very poor. He said Telugu Ganga Project is a boon given by former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao and said they were able to complete 70 per cent of Sangam Barrage and 90 pc works of Nellore Barrage. All leaders who participated in the debate lamented over poor MSP to the farmers.

Farmer Murali Krishna and others demanded revival of Kovur Cooperative Sugar Factory. They said the State government had failed to allocate Rs 50 crore for the unit to clear its dues. Consequently, 1,500-1,800 workers, 6,000 farmers are facing troubles, they pointed out. Aqua farmers said though 26,000 acres of lands were being used for cultivation there were no concrete steps for providing subsidised power.