Naidu says weak flood banks risky for Godavari districts

KAKINADA: Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu accused ruling YSRC government of neglecting Godavari River’s flood banks which, he said, pose a threat to erstwhile Godavari districts.

Making a PowerPoint presentation on irrigation projects in Rajamahendravaram on Tuesday, the TD chief recalled that as many as 70 people had died when the Annamayya project got washed away.

“But the YSRC government did not care about the project or the loss of lives,” he remarked.

Naidu felt the state government is not in a position to spend even ₹1 crore on erecting flood gates. “But Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy heading the state wants to build three capitals for the state. The move lacks credibility whatsoever,” he remarked.

The TD chief asserted that as the CM, he had spent ₹236 crore on strengthening the Godavari flood banks. But during the past four years, not even ₹7 crore have been spent for the purpose, he pointed out.

“People of Godavari districts should be conscious of this fact and exert pressure on the state government to strengthen the flood banks,” he emphasised.

Naidu said the TD government did not hike power charges during its five-year rule. It had taken up several lift irrigation projects like Purushottampatnam, Pattiseema, Venkata Nagaram, Thota Venkatachalam Pushkara and released funds for modernisation of Yeleru, Musurumilli, Chagalnadu and other projects. But YSRC government has not taken any care of projects and all the development works are at a standstill.

Incidentally, the TD chief inspected the Purushottampatnam Lift Irrigation Project on Tuesday evening. Addressing people in Purushottampatnam and Korukonda, he charged Rajanagaram MLA Jakkampudi Raja with doing nothing for the development of his constituency.

Naidu told people to be patient for eight months, when TD will come to power and bring back the good days.