Chandrababu Naidu slams Modi for not visiting Polavaram

Polavaram dam site: Continuing his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not cooperating with the state government in construction of Polavaram project, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that Modi did not visit the project even for once.

While addressing a public meeting after attending the erection of first gate of Polavaram project at the dam site on Godavari river at Polavaram village in West Godavari district on Monday, the Chief Minister said that Modi was behaving like a Prime Minister of Gujarat but not the country. He alleged that Modi was visiting and supporting the projects in the Gujarat only and ignoring the rest of the country.

“Prime ministers in the past visited major irrigation dams when they were under construction like Nagarjunasagar. But, despite recognising Polavaram as national project, Modi has not visit it and is not even extending support for its construction. Modi did not release money to the project.

The Central government did not approve the revised Detailed Project Report submitted by the state government. They have not given money to provide amount to the project-affected people for Rehabilitation and Resettlement package,” he said.

Describing the erection earlier of radial gate at Polavaram project as great day for the state, the Chief Minister said it was an indication that the Polavaram was at its final stage of completion.

“Many projects were built so far. But we have not seen their progress. Now, we are constructing the biggest project in the country. Hence, we provided an opportunity to the people to visit Polavaram, which has become a tourist destination. Nearly 10 lakh people visited the project so far,” he said.

Reiterating that completion of the project was his dream, Naidu said that the government would release water through gravitational force by May next year.

The Chief Minister said there had been fears for a long time that drought-prone Anantapur district would turn into a desert, but the government was giving water to the district and other districts of parched Rayalaseema. He also said that setting up of Kia Motors plant was facilitated in the district by arranging water supply in a span of six months.

On the plight of farmers, Naidu said Modi despite his tall promises of doubling their income had not done anything for them. “Farmers are struggling to overcome debts. I thought of doing something good for them and provided Rs 24,000 crore relief through debt redemption.

At that time, no one did it and the Centre did not help us. Even the rich state Telangana gave only Rs 1 lakh for each farmers whereas we gave Rs 1.50 lakh to farmers. Now everybody is talking about the debt redemption,” he said.

Naidu said they were setting another world record on Polavaram on January 9, 2019 by completing concrete works of 28,000 to 30,000 cubic metre in a single day.

Stressing that Modi must support construction of project, he noted that the project was accorded national project status and NITI Aayog recommended the state government to construct it for speedy execution. He said the Centre gave only Rs 6,000 crore out of the total Rs 10000 crore that was spent by the state government.