The Hindu : `Naidu habitually making false promises'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

`Naidu habitually making false promises'

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, FEB. 21. The District Congress Committee official spokesman and former MP, N. Thulasi Reddy, has alleged that the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, is habituated to laying foundation stones for projects in a huff and showering promises on the eve of elections and ignoring them later.

Addressing a press conference here, Dr. Reddy recalled that Mr. Naidu laid the foundation-stone for the Gandikota reservoir on the eve of the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, but the project neither made any headway nor its FRL was finalised. It resulted in cancellation of a Rs. 50-crore railway bridge sanctioned at Kondapuram across the Chitravathi river for which tenders were called, he alleged. Moreover, the 100-year-old bridge outlived its utility, he said.

He said the State Government had failed to respond to the letters addressed by railway officials to declare the Gandikota FRL so they could decide the height of the rail bridge. He wondered about the fate of the second phase of the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant. Generation in the RTPP first stage was uncertain as the Transco had not promised purchase of the power generated and water availability was irregular, he said.

The Gandikota reservoir and the RTPP second phase were vital for the region and they would be completed by the former CLP Leader, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who would become Chief Minister if the Congress was voted to power, he said.

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Andhra Pradesh