Redesign to shelve projects: T Jeevan Reddy

KARIMNAGAR: Deputy floor leader of the Congress and Jagtial MLA T. Jeevan Reddy alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was trying to shelve several irrigation projects, taken up in the past, by proposing redesigns to them. “The Chief Minister is creating nuisance by stating Opposition parties are politicising the redesigning of irrigation projects,” he charged. He demanded the government to extend the best rehabilitation and resettlement packages to evacuees of different ongoing projects. He spoke to reporters here on Monday.

Mr Jeevan Reddy recalled that Mr Rao had pressed for national status to Pranahita-Chevellla irrigation project in the past. “He was accompanied by R. Vidyasagar Rao, who is now adviser to state on irrigation. But, the Chief Minister is stressing on the need to re-engineer the ambitious project. He is trying to abandon all of the projects under the pretext of redesigning. Moreover, he is blaming the Opposition parties in this regard,” he flayed. “In fact, there is no need to take up Water Grid once the Pranahita-Chevella project is completed as per the existing design. Apart from having adequate water to irrigational needs, groundwater table too can be improved with the advent of this project. Objections of Maharashtra can easily be addressed as the project’s 1,800 acres of land is located in the neighboring state,” opined the leader.

The legislator questioned as to how water could be lifted to Gouravelli and Gandipelli reservoirs.