Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh unit president Somu Veerraju on Thursday alleged that the State government had completely ignored the construction of irrigation projects of the North Andhra region although they would require only around ₹2,000 crore for their completion. The YSRCP administration had focused only on the so-called welfare schemes while ignoring the long-term development of the North Andhra region, he alleged.
Along with party senior leaders Daggubati Purandeswari and P.V.N. Madhav, he formally launched ‘Jalam Kosam Janaporu Yatra’ in Srikakulam to step up pressure on the government for the completion of pending projects in Srikakulam, Parvatipuram, Vizianagaram and Anakapalle districts which are part of the North Andhra region.
As part of a three-day tour, BJP leaders visited Hiramandalam and Neradi regions where the Vamsadhara projects were yet to be completed. Speaking at a public meeting near the Vamsadhara Phase-2 project, Mr. Veerraju said that the YSRCP government could not convince Odisha over the Neradi barrage which needed only about 110 acres in Odisha for its construction. “People gave 151 Assembly seats to YSRCP in the 2019 elections but the party could not achieve any concrete development in the last three years. Neglect of irrigation projects will deny livelihood opportunities for farmers and other sections of people,” he said.
Ms. Purandeswari said that her father N.T. Rama Rao, when he was the Chief Minister of erstwhile A.P., met his Odisha counterpart J.B. Patnaiak to resolve pending issues of the Vamsadhara project. She asked the government to take steps on a war-footing to resolve the disputes and ensure speedy construction of the project.
Earlier, party senior leaders Gadde Baburao, Pydi Venugopalam, Attada Ravi Babji, N. Eswara Rao, B. Umamaheswara Rao and others welcomed the party State leaders at 7 Road junction of Srikakulam where a huge convoy with 100 cars left for Hiramandalam to visit pending projects.
The party senior leaders will inaugurate a BJP office in Parvatipuram on Friday and visit the Thotapalli project constructed across the Nagavali river.
The party is keen to highlight the delay in development of canals and distributory network which will ensure irrigation facility for nearly one lakh acres in Parvatipuram, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.
On Saturday, the last day of the tour, the leaders will visit pending projects of the newly formed Anakapalle district.
