Peddireddy has amassed Rs 40,000 crore in four years: Naidu

TIRUPATI: Telugu Desam (TD) chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday intensified his attacks on minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy by accusing him of amassing wealth from new irrigation projects. He alleged that the minister had amassed ill-gotten wealth to the approximate tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the last four years, making him only the second-highest plunderer of the state's resources after Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

On a tour of Tirupati, as part of his 'yudha dheri' programme, Naidu gave a power-point presentation on the poor condition of irrigation projects in the combined Chittoor district.

He expressed surprise at the special allocations made by the government for projects proposed by Peddireddy, while funds for under-construction irrigation projects in Chittoor district were withheld for no reason. He questioned whether Peddireddy was a minister or a contractor.

He held the minister and the district police administration responsible for the attack on TD cadre near Punganur on Friday, alleging that Peddireddy had orchestrated the attack to disrupt his 'yudha bheri' programme.

Providing statistics on the extent of cultivation and irrigation in the erstwhile Chittoor district, the former chief minister stated that of the total extent of 37.43 lakh acres, only 10.08 lakh acres were under cultivation and a mere 4.33 lakh acres were under irrigation. He criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy for freezing 102 projects in Rayalaseema, including 25 projects in the combined Chittoor district, which he referred to as ‘reverse tendering’.

Meanwhile, the TD president reaffirmed his commitment to bring Godavari waters to Rayalaseema region during a road show in Srikalahasti.

He emphasised that his goal was to develop the region on par with Hyderabad.

Recalling the late Bojjala Ramakrishna Reddy during the road show, he called the former TD minister as a leading example of ethical and clean politics.

Accusing the current government of failing to supply water even to canals, Naidu assured the people of the region that once the TD returns to power, they will ensure Godavari waters to meet both drinking and irrigation needs.

He said that the days of YSRC government are numbered, citing the growing revolt among the people and their disgruntlement against its policies.