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Pattiseema rocks AP Assembly
The issue of Pattiseema project rocked Assembly as the YSRCP went on making allegations of corruption but failed to give a clear reply to the repeated demand from the treasury benches on whether the party wants the project or not.
Hyderabad: The issue of Pattiseema project rocked Assembly as the YSRCP went on making allegations of corruption but failed to give a clear reply to the repeated demand from the treasury benches on whether the party wants the project or not.
During the discussion which lasted for over three hours, YSRCP deputy leader Jyothula Nehru alleged of kickbacks, but did not come clear on whether his party was in favour of the project or against it. Apart from levelling allegations that Pattiseema has been taken up for kickbacks; Nehru said that the TDP government was trying to dilute the Polavaram project.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, replying to allegations, read out statistics to prove that the government is focusing on equal justice to all regions. He explained about the manner in which the previous Congress government in the undivided AP left the irrigation projects incomplete. He found fault with YSRCP for creating hurdles in implementing the Pattiseema project.
Reacting to the rebuttal, the opposition members rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans “Polavaram Vyathireki Chandrababu Naidu down down”. This brought the proceedings to a grinding halt. Taking exception to this, CM Naidu suggested the YSRCP deputy floor leader to first study the subject before speaking on it.
He told the opposition not to make loose comments and insult civil engineering. “Irrigation department had slipped into inertia for the last ten years and remained directionless. Not a single project has been completed despite spending crores of rupees. It was after the TDP took over the reins of the State, implementation of irrigation projects started on a priority basis,” the Chief Minister said.
Implementing pending irrigation projects in backward north Coastal districts and Rayalaseema has been given top priority. Similarly, by linking Godavari with Krishna with Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (PLIS), the State government has planned to provide drinking and irrigation water to Rayalaseema, the Chief Minister said.
Refuting that the Polavaram has been neglected, Naidu said that in last 15 months, the government had spent Rs 1,822.46 crore, and clarified that PLIS was only a temporary project so that the benefits of Polavaram project can be received early by diverting 80 TMC of Godavari water to Krishna.
Earlier, Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao said that the average utilisation under the Godavari river by the State is about 350 TMC against the planned 430 TMC. The inflows into river Krishna had been over exploited by the upper riparian State Karnataka and resulted in the lack of even assured water, he added. It was against this backdrop that the PLIS has been planned to link Godavari with Krishna, he informed.
