The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Reliving Sagar memories

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Reliving Sagar memories

S. Ramu

We were there when Pandit Nehru laid the foundation stone, recall Ministers

PRETTY PICTURE: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy going around a photo exhibition organised by the Nagarjunasagar project officials to mark the project's golden jubilee celebrations on Saturday: PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

NAGARJUNASAGAR: Senior politicians — Sudini Jaipal Reddy and Kunduru Jana Reddy — turned nostalgic when their turn came to address the public meeting organised to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the world biggest masonry dam, Nagarjunasagar, here on Saturday.

"I had come here to watch the foundation laying ceremony attended by Nehruji fifty years ago when I was seven," the Home Minister stated. He further said: "I feel happy to be here at the golden jubilee celebrations."

Compensation

Mr. Reddy asked the family members of those who had lost their lives during the construction of the project to approach the Government to get suitable compensation.

The Union Minister, Jaipal Reddy, said that he had attended the ceremony as a school boy. "At that time I was studying at a high school in Devarakonda.

Under the leadership of G. Narayana Reddy, we came here to witness the ceremony," he said adding that "this day is an auspicious day in my life."

Recalling the speech made by Nehru, he said: "He used very simple English to address the gathering. I recall he used the word `aadhunika devalayam (modern temple) in his speech."

Major issues

Mr. Jaipal Reddy also talked about two important topics concerning this region, namely maintenance of the lift irrigation schemes on the NSP left canal and the payment of compensation for the evacuees of the Pulichintala project. He said that his request vis-à-vis the two issues were not materialised despite of "categorical assurances given by the Chief Minister."

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