MLA goes out of way to clear irrigation channel

Nellore: Except for tall promises, political leaders usually avoid spending from their pockets to address the needs of the people.

However, a first time legislator of YSR Congress Mekapati Gowtham Reddy went out of the way and used his own funds to the tune of Rs 17 lakh for de-silting an irrigation canal to save standing crop in 1,500 acre in Anantasagaram mandal of Atmakur constituency.

Interestingly, he did not give any publicity to his laudable deed unlike his peers who crave for limelight for petty activities. Mr Reddy said that he took the initiative after he noticed the crop withering due to water deficiency.

“It is a time consuming process if we want the government to carry out the work. Moreover, it is not an easy job to mobilise government funds being an opposition legislator and the farmers were in urgent need of water for the standing crop in the kharif. Although the estimated cost is running into Rs 20 lakh, I have decided to go ahead because any delay could hit the farmers under the belt,” Mr Gowtham Reddy said.

Referring to the availability of MP Local Area Development funds (MPLADS) of his father and Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy for the purpose, he said that there was no time to wait and the fund can be utilized for the needy elsewhere.

He added that he is indebted to the people of Atmakur as they stood behind him during the recent election and secure majority in the segment helped his father also to win.

My target is to mobili-se funds for Somasila High Level Canal and Somasila North Canal, he asserted.