DL blames Jagan, YSR for delay in Polavaram works

Health Minister Dl Ravindra Reddy on Friday alleged that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and his son YS Jaganmohan Reddy were responsible the tardy pace of work on the Polavaram Irrigation project on River Godavari in West Godavari district.

Talking to media persons here, the Health Minister said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy did not raise the issue in Parliament while he was Congress MP, while his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had failed to push for the completion of the project.

Lashing out at Mr Jaganmohan Reddy for taking up the Harita Yatra to pressurize the government to push for the completion of the project, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that the former MP had no moral right to raise the issue. He said that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy was unaware of what the Polavaram project was all about, but had launched a protest yatra just because it was in the news.

The Minister stated that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy did not even know who constructed the Gandikota project in Kadapa district. This was the extent of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s knowledge, so how could be take up the issue, Dr Ravindra Reddy continued.

The Minister stated that cheap publicity was the only motive behind Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s Harita Yatra and he lacked commitment towards the issue.

Justifying the delay in completion of the project, the Minister stated that neighbouring states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh had raised objections and the case was pending in the Supreme Court.

Dr Ravindra Reddy revealed that the government was making concerted efforts to complete the project and it was one of its priorities. He also added that getting the status of a National Project was also the priority of the government.

When asked to comment on reports that the camp of the former MP has seen about 30 MLAs pledging him support, Dr Ravindra Reddy said that the media has exaggerated the figure.

He said that hardly less than ten MLAs are known to owe loyalties to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy.