KARIMNAGAR: The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy, has launched a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party for neglecting the core sectors of agriculture and irrigation during its 10-year regime in the State.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting organised at the Ambedkar stadium as part of the Rajiv Nagara Baata programme here on Thursday, the Chief Minister flayed the TDP leaders for obstructing the ambitious irrigation projects taken up by the Congress Government for a long-term solution to the drought. "The TDP had laid foundation stones for several irrigation projects, but failed to take them up and deceived people with false promises during the elections,'' he stated.

The Congress had accorded top priority for the irrigation sector and taken up all the projects on a war footing, he said adding that they had taken up the SRSP flood flow canal, SRSP second phase project, Yellampalli projects for the benefit of Karimnagar district. He charged that the TDP with raising a hue and cry over the irrigation projects and obstructing its progress.

He said that the Centre had assured the State of all assistance for the completing the irrigation projects. He also said that the Centre had allocated Rs. 16,600 crore plan budget for the State, which was the highest in the country. He also said that they had decided to tap the Pranahita river water by merging with the Yellampalli to ensure water upto Chevella in Ranga Reddy district, which was otherwise neglected by the TDP.

"We invited the TDP leaders for an open debate on the irrigation projects, but they did not prove the charges. Instead, they misutilised the opportunity for gaining political mileage and politicising the issue,'' he added. He said that they would complete all irrigation projects as promised in the elections.

Women's empowerment

With regard to the women empowerment, he said that the Congress Government was providing loans at the rate of 4 per cent for the women self-help groups for their economic empowerment. He alleged that the TDP had used the women SHG members only for the elections.

Reiterating that the Government was committed to fulfil all election promises, he said that they were distributing free power for farmers and also waived about Rs. 1,200 crore power dues.

The Chief Minister said that they have distributed white ration cards to all eligible persons in all the towns, which were abandoned during the last TDP regime. He said that they would take up the ration cards distribution in the villages after three months.

He also said that his Government had stopped migration of labour to cities in the State. He also said that they had initiated several welfare schemes for weavers, toddy tappers, etc.

The Minister for Sports, M. Satynarayana Rao, the Minister for Minorities, Md. Fariduddin, the Government Whip, D. Sridhar, legislators - J. Ratnakara Rao, T. Jeevan Reddy, K. Ramulu, Chada Venkat Reddy, and others were present.

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