Andhra Pradesh - Anantapur   

Opposition criticising Jalayagnam for publicity, says Minister

Info-packed pages: Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy giving away a copy of the special issue of a monthly magazine in Anantapur on Saturday, as ZP Chairperson T. Kavitha and others look on.

ANANTAPUR: Minister for Agriculture N. Raghuveera Reddy has said that Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was taking all measures to ensure that the benefits of ‘Jalayagnam’ reached the people. Those who are criticising the Chief Minister on the issue are doing it purely for political mileage and publicity, he alleged.

Speaking after releasing the special issue of a monthly magazine ‘Kadalika’ here on Saturday, he said the Chief Ministers of the State in the past had ample opportunities to complete irrigation projects to utilise the allocated waters, but they failed to concentrate on the all-important sector.

The projects that could not be completed even in 20 years were being completed by Dr. Reddy in just 7 to 8 years. Irrigation facility was created to about 20 lakh acres last year and another 13 lakh acres would be irrigated this year, he noted. He brushed aside the charges of Opposition parties that large-scale corruption was taking place in the implementation of ‘Jalayagnam’ and said it was being done with transparency.

The detractors of the Chief Minister on the irrigation front were accusing him of helping Rayalaseema at the cost of other regions, but fact was that the drought-prone region was not getting its due share of river waters.

Even after completion of projects under progress, only 12 lakh acres out of 35 lakh acres area of Anantapur district would have irrigation facility, Mr. Raghuveera Reddy stated. He also criticised those using the Pothireddypadu issue for political mileage. Zilla Parishad Chairperson T. Kavitha, Anantapur MP A. Venkatarami Reddyand others participated.

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