Naidu Vows Zero Tolerance For Corruption; Outlines Welfare, Infra Push

Gudivada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said here that he had taken up the responsibility of protecting the future of the Telugu community, and noted that he was extending good governance with complete transparency.

Addressing a public meeting at Gudivada, the CM vowed that he would not tolerate corruption under any circumstances.

"I took up the responsibility of protecting the future of the Telugu community. We are providing transparent and accountable governance," he said while participating in the Swarna Andhra–Swachh Andhra (Golden Andhra, Clean Andhra) programme.

Naidu said he laid the foundation for various works worth Rs 15,274 crore in 120 urban local bodies, which will be taken up under public health.

He said works on water treatment plants, overhead drinking water tanks, reviving ponds and others were being taken up.

Naidu said the government aims to provide safe drinking water and improve sanitation, adding that 126 new electric autorickshaws would soon be deployed for door-to-door waste collection.

He said another 1,104 e-autorickshaws would be added to the fleet and that the government had decided to set up waste treatment plants at Rs 528 crore.

He also said eight waste-to-energy plants were being established across the state.

Attacking the previous YSRCP government, Naidu alleged that it had left piles of garbage on roads, resulting in the pollution of water bodies.

He claimed that 140 tonnes of garbage allegedly left behind by the previous government had been cleared and assured that all such waste would be removed by October 2.

Naidu said water inflows into the Krishna Delta had declined 12 years ago, prompting the government to complete the Pattiseema project in just 12 months to divert Godavari river water to the delta.

Despite a 48 per cent rainfall deficit and the lack of upstream inflows into the Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada, he said the government had managed to supply water from the Pattiseema project to the Krishna Delta.

Until now, Naidu said, 450 TMC of water had been supplied, enabling the creation of wealth worth Rs 50,000 crore, and pointed out that several people had tried to stall the Pattiseema project.

The CM promised to complete the Polavaram Project and supply water using gravity to the Krishna Delta, and noted that rivers from Vamshadara to Penna would be inter-linked to avert famine.

Assuring that aquaculture in the Gudivada region would be protected, the CM said he had spoken to the Centre over rising aquaculture feed prices.

The CM said funds under the 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 annually for each school-going child, would be disbursed between July 22 and 24.

He said more than 67.4 lakh beneficiaries would receive a total of Rs 10,122 crore under the scheme.

According to the CM, the people had removed "political garbage" in the 2024 elections and "put an end to the abusive rhetoric of some leaders."

"Criminals continue to be active in politics with their malicious designs and conspiracies. Obscene posts are being shared on social media to harass people. Posts targeting Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's family members were also circulated, and those responsible defended them as freedom of speech," Naidu said.

The CM alleged that YSRCP leader S Appalaraju was attempting to tamper with evidence to protect his son, who was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run case.

Citing the case involving TDP leader Mallela Venkata Ramana Murthy, who is accused of assaulting a woman in Guntur, Naidu said Murthy was immediately suspended from the party and arrested.

The CM asserted that he would not spare anyone found guilty of wrongdoing, whether they belonged to the TDP or any other party.