COUNTER OFFENSIVE: Minister for Major Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah, along with Government whip D. Sridhar and Congress leaders, inspecting the on-going SRSP flood flow canal works at Kurikyala of Gangadhara mandal on Saturday. - Photo R. Raju

KARIMNAGAR: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah formally launched the SRSP flood flow `canal yatra' to inspect the ongoing works, which were progressing at a rapid pace in the district in Korikyala village in Gangadhara mandal and to focus on the delay of the project during the TDP regime, on Saturday.

The Minister, Government Whip D Sridhar, legislators T Jeevan Reddy, J Ratnakara Rao, DCC president T Santosh, ZP chairman K V Rajeshwara Rao, former legislator K Satyanarayan Goud and others participated in large numbers in the padayatra along the ongoing flood flow canal project work site in the village. Visitors were greeted at the site with the flood waters in the canal and rapid pace of the project works.

Twin objectives

The Congress had launched the flood flow canal yatra only to educate people about the progress of the ambitious project, which was delayed since the last 10 years during the TDP regime, the party leaders said. They also performed puja of the Godavari. TDP deputy leader in the Assembly, T Devender Goud's Godavari Jala Sadhana padayatra passed through this project site.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Major Irrigation launched a scathing attack against the TDP leaders for conducting a padayatra after losing power and neglecting the irrigation sector when in power. "The TDP leaders had said why flood flow canal when there is no flood into the SRSP project and are now conducting the padayatras,'' he pointed out.

Neglect by TDP alleged

He also charged that the TDP had neglected the SRSP flood flow canal project during its regime forcing the escalation in the project cost due to the delay in the execution. "Earlier, the TDP leaders said where is the water for the construction of projects and later went to court. Now, they have started conducting padayatras for the completion of projects on the Godavari,'' he said.

He said that the farmers were happy with the Congress Government with the friendly measures such as distribution of free power and execution of irrigation projects.

Government Whip D Sridhar flayed the TDP leaders' padayatra in the region demanding completion of irrigation projects when already all the projects were progressing at a rapid pace. He said that they had decided to conduct project yatras only to educate people about the `true colours' of the TDP leaders, who have no concern for agriculture and the farming sector.

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