The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : No backtracking on promises: Chief Minister

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Monday, Dec 15, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

No backtracking on promises: Chief Minister

Staff Reporter

‘Government prepared to spend whatever is required for development of backward areas’

— Photo: K. V. RAMANA

Detailed handout: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy releasing a brochure on the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanti at Kamareddy on Sunday.

KAMAREDDY (NIZAMABAD DT.): Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said his government is prepared to spend whatever amount is required for the development of backward areas and there is no question of backtracking from its promises made to people.

Addressing a public meeting after laying foundation to the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanti (package 20th to 22nd), here on Sunday, he said the project costing Rs. 38,500 crore once completed would provide water to 16.5 lakh acres in Telangana.

“Many are sceptical of the completion of this mega project which is going to be the biggest lift irrigation scheme in the country. They say that Rs. 2.50 lakh is required for providing irrigation to one acre of land which values just Rs.70,000 through this project, let alone Rs.13,000 for electricity per year.”

“Our Government, however, does not mind the expenditure for developing backward areas, backward castes and tribes on par with the developed ones. This is our goal and we will certainly complete the project,” he reiterated.

Dr. Reddy said there was an opinion among people of this district that they were not getting any benefit with Sriramsagar Project as it irrigated only Karimnagar and Warangal.

However, if the project in question was completed it would irrigate 3.04 lakh acres in 25 parched mandals of the district. For 16 tmcf of water which would be drawn from foreshore of Godavari for these three packages in the district the lower reaches districts of Karimnagar and Warangal would be given water from Yellampalli, said the Chief Minister.

PCC president D. Srinivas, Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy, Electricity Minister Shabbir Ali and Yellareddy MLA B. Janardhan Goud spoke. Among those who present were Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi, ZP Chairman Taher Bin Hamdan and MLAs and MLCs.

Traffic jam

Movement of vehicular traffic came to a grinding halt on the National Highway-7 following Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s arrival and departure on Sunday.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on both sides of the road. Vehicles including trucks, private cars and even RTC buses were stopped by police by putting barricades a few kilometres away from the town. A large number of trucks lined up on right side of the road from Adlur Yellareddy X road to the north and the line touched a few kilometres.

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