YSRCP slams Naidu for neglecting irrigation sector

Hyderabad, Nov 30 : Blaming TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu for the under-utilization of surplus Krishna waters during his term as Chief Minister, YSR Congress has said he owes an apology to the people of the State as his polices always benefitted the neighbouring State as he lacked vision and has no understanding on irrigation, agriculture and farmers.

“He did not complete a single project that were envisioned by NTR and conceded the rights on surplus Krishna water and allowed Karnataka to increase the height of Almatti dam enabling it to capture an additional 133 TMC of water meting out grave injustice to farmers of the State,’ party leaders Vasireddy Padma and Gattu Ramachandra Rao told reporters here on Saturday.

While Naidu’s track record on irrigation front is so dismal, he leveling false allegations against YSR that an affidavit was given on the issue which resulted in the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal verdict going against the State.

“This is total distortion of facts. YSR has contended that it is not the right but the lower riparian state has freedom to utilize the surplus water and flood waters as well. Had Chandrababu Naidu built projects on the Krishna surplus waters during his term, things would not have come to such a pass, they said.

It was YSR who had taken up projects under Jagayagnam to rectify the mistakes committed by TDP rule and had started seven projects on a fast track as he could foresee that the right on surplus water would be forfeited by State if it was silent.

In the affidavit, YSR has contended that the State has the freedom to utilize the surplus waters and flood waters, while TDP is distorting the facts and trying to shift the blame on YSR. He has given the budgetary allocation of 32,000 crores for irrigation which was unprecedented.

Naidu on the other hand headed the State as a World Bank agent and did very little for agriculture and irrigation, he allowed the Karnataka Government to increase the height of Almatti dam from 591 to 524.4 mts thereby increasing the capacity from 170 TMC to 303 TMC.

The TDP Chief should apologise to the people of the state for neglecting the Krishna waters issue while he was at the helm and the Party is prepared for a debate at any forum, they said. INN