TIRUPATI: Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi (RPS) founder and former MLA Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy has demanded that central government redesign its proposed bridge across River Krishna connecting Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. “Centre must instead construct a Bridge-cum-Barrage for benefitting agriculture, transport and tourism sectors in both Rayalaseema and Telangana,” he underlined.
Addressing a press conference at Tirupati Press Club on Wednesday along with Rayalaseema Porata Samithi convener P. Naveen Kumar Reddy, the RPS founder said as the bridge proposed by the centre would cost ₹1,200 crore, they want to ensure that it is constructed keeping in mind all the requirements. To drive home this point, Byreddy said they will be organising a “Chalo Siddeswaram” protest programme on January 28 in Siddeswaram and bring the matter to the attention of the central government.
Incidentally, union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari recently tweeted that the centre has given its nod for construction of an” iconic cable stayed-cum-suspension bridge” across Krishna River between AP and TS at a cost of ₹1,082.56 crore and the construction will be completed in 30 months.
Following this, RPS has been demanding that the bridge be redesigned. The RPS convenor said: "The iconic bridge across Krishna between Somasila and Siddeswaram will cut the distance between Hyderabad and Tirupati by 80 km. Instead of the suspension bridge, if a barrage-cum-bridge is erected, it will provide irrigation facilities to farmers of both Rayalaseema and Telangana.”
He said a delegation of Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi will soon meet Nitin Gadkari and chief ministers of both Telugu states for explaining to them the rationality behind their demand.
Going into neglect of development in Rayalaseema, Byreddy alleged that successive governments have ignored the irrigation needs of the region despite availability of water in Krishna River from Srisailam reservoir. He accused various governments of showing no concern for Rayalaseema, even though it lacks water for irrigation and industries for employment and development. “The region wants “Water, Funds and Employment,” the RPS founder emphasised.
He pointed out that thousands of jobs are vacant in Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. These should be filled immediately with top priority being given to unemployed youth of Rayalaseema in the jobs.
Byreddy lamented that political leaders of Chittoor district have destroyed agriculture in the region for their vested political interests. Now, they are even depriving dairy farmers by denying them support price for milk. He warned that Tirupati may become a drought area because 15 TMC of Telugu Ganga water is being released to Chennai, while only 2 TMC is available to Tirupati.
