SRIKAKULAM: Who should get credit for the Right Main Canal of the Vamsadhara project which will be formally dedicated to farmers by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Thursday?

Congress leaders are planning to make it a memorable one by inviting the Chief Minister with `500 ploughs'. This will be followed by a `padayatra' by Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao on June 15.

Asserting that not even a single project for which the Chief Minister laid the foundation was completed till this day, TDP leader in the Lok Sabha and Srikakulam MP Kinjarapu Yerrannaidu charged Congress leaders, including Mr. Prasada Rao, with misleading people by making false claims. Recalling the history of the project, Mr. Yerrannaidu said that it was way back in 2000 that administrative clearance was accorded for the project with an estimated cost of Rs.123 crores.

Water was released for 20,000 acres of ayacut in 2000 and for another 10,000 acres in 2004. The additional ayacut that would be covered now is about 20,000. Was it fair for Congress leaders to claim credit for this project, Mr. Yerrannaidu, who along with TDP district unit president and MLA G.S.S. Sivaji, questioned while addressing media persons at the party office here on Tuesday.

`Tall promises'

The Congress Government had promised to complete one phase of Vamsadhara in two years and the second phase in five years.

The total cost of the project was nearly Rs.1000 crores.

So far a mere Rs.130 crores was spent on the entire project in the last three years, he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail