Tulasi rebuts Jagan's criticism on Polavaram

The state government reacted sharply on Friday to the charges made by former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy that it was adopting a step-motherly attitude towards completion of the Polavaram irrigation project.

Twenty-Point Economic Programme Chairman N Tulasi Reddy told media persons at the state Secretariat that so far the government had spent Rs 3,038 crore with the Centre also contributing Rs 562 crore for the prestigious Polavaram project as against its estimated cost of Rs 16,010 crore.

After the demise of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Rs 1,576 crore was spent for the project in roughly two years, Dr Tulasi Reddy contined, ridiculing Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s criticism made during his Polavaram Yatra.

Dr Tulasi Reddy was forced to bring out the facts connected to the expenditure and efforts put in to seek the Central clearances apart from the state's determination to secure National status for the Project despite Chhattisgarh and Orissa states' objections, prove the extent of resolve the government had towards Polavaram after YSR's tenure.

He stated that the National status for Polavaram is in the last stages of approval. Expenditure Committee of the Union Finance Ministry and Central Cabinet permission were to be received. For this, efforts were in the process, Dr Tulasi Reddy assured.

The TPP Chairman went on that in 2010, the Forest and Environment Ministries cleared Stage V Forest clearance while sanction for 45 roads under Central Water Commission came in January 2011. This is the pace of development, he stated.

There was no element of doubt that the project would be delayed, Dr Tulasi Reddy emphasised.

What motivated Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to state that the project was delayed or neglected at the cost of the poor farmers' lives was incomprehensible, he charged.

Dr Tulasi Reddy called it as being irresponsible. Following the former MP's outburst, Dr Tulasi Reddy was forced to allege that during the Harita Yatra club dances went on. When media persons asked him to justify this allegation, Dr Tulasi Reddy advised the reporters to watch the visuals of the club dances.

He further stated that when Mr Jaganmohan Reddy was an MP, not one day did he raise the issue of Polavaram on the floor of the Parliament. Now, Dr Tulasi Reddy continued, Mr Jaganmohan Reddy has ‘all of a sudden undertook the Harita Yatra for Polavaram’, making a mockery of his own stand. The former MP was advised not to fight with borrowed armour with no essence in his statements.

Blocking a programme like Racha Banda which was designed to reddress the grievances of the poor was undemocratic and inhuman, the TPP Chairman pointed out.

Both BJP and TRS were condemned for stalling the progress of Racha Banda which attracted an expenditure of Rs 2500 crore by the leader.

Dr Tulasi Reddy termed their attempts as ‘unfortunate’ as the poor attending the Racha Banda were confident of seeking help from the government.