Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu addressing the media conference on Polavaram at the Secretariat on Friday. (Image by arrangement)
Amaravati: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu made a powerpoint presentation on Friday on the destruction in Polavaram in the past five years and highlighted the importance of releasing a White Paper to explain facts to the people.
All the white papers will be released within 20-25 days, which would be followed by the presentation of the state Budget. The related documents would be placed on a special website. Naidu criticised the YSRC government for its handling of the Polavaram project, noting that the works were stopped for two seasons.
The Chief Minister released the white paper on Polavaram on Friday. He said that the diaphragm wall of Polavaram got completely damaged only due to the “imprudent” decisions of Jagan Mohan Reddy. “In fact, the very existence of the project is now in jeopardy because of Jagan Mohan Reddy's incompetence and arrogance.”
He alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy has ignored the suggestions made by the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) not to change the agencies. The funds released by the Centre for the project were diverted by the previous government, the Chief Minister said.
Hiding the facts, the YSRC government gave false statements that the Polavaram project would be completed, he said. “During the TD term till 2019, 72 per cent of the
project works were completed. The YSRC government executed a mere 3.84 per cent of the works. This apart, that government has brought in a new proposal that the height of the project be fixed at 41.15 metres. I am really pained on knowing the present condition of Polavaram.
project works were completed. The YSRC government executed a mere 3.84 per cent of the works. This apart, that government has brought in a new proposal that the height of the project be fixed at 41.15 metres. I am really pained on knowing the present condition of Polavaram.
This white paper is being released so that the people should know the ground reality,” he. He said that before the Centre presented the Union Budget in Parliament, the issues being faced by the state should be brought to its notice. “This is the reason why we release the white papers on seven issues and then we will present the state’s budgetary proposals before the Assembly.” He felt AP badly needs irrigation projects and said that this was the reason why Rs 67,000 crore was spent on this sector during the last TD term. “But the previous government did not release funds even for their maintenance,” he said. Naidu made it clear that Polavaram and Amaravati are the two key projects for the state and if these two projects are completed, the loss that the state had suffered can be made up to a certain extent.
Stating that the Godavari river has the largest storage of water and at least 3,000 TMC feet of water from this river was flowing into the sea, the CM said, “If this water is utilised, the state will never face any kind of water problem.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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