Janardhan Reddy hits back at YSRCP for its protest over RLIS

Minister for Roads and Buildings B.C. Janardhan Reddy lashed out at the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) for neglecting the Rayalaseema region when it was in power and now making a hue and cry over the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, the construction of which was stopped during the YSRCP regime.

Reacting to the YSRCP holding Chalo Pothireddypadu protest in Nandyal district on Thursday (February 05), Mr. Janardhan Reddy questioned as to why the former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy maintained silence when the Rayalaseema lift works were halted by the National Green Tribunal in 2020 itself. Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy even failed to file a counter in the subsequent four years, he said and alleged that the YSRCP president is trying to instigate regional feelings with his protests.

The Minister said that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not even spend ₹2 lakh crore for Rayalaseema even as ₹12 lakh crore was allocated in the Budget during his tenure. “Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had scrapped the drip irrigation project that would have benefitted the region. He had pre-closed 102 projects in Rayalaseema region. I dare Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy for a debate on development of Rayalaseema,” Mr. Janardhan Reddy said.

The Minister said the previous TDP government had started 13 pumps of Muchumarri project in 2017 itself but Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not take forward the project fearing that the credit would go to the TDP and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. “Mr. Chandrababu Naidu has turned drought-prone Anantapur into a horticulture hub and had spent ₹8,000 crore in just 19 months. Development works to the tune of ₹5,000 crore are taking place in Orvakal and Kopparthi,” Mr. Janardhan Reddy added. Further, investments to the tune of ₹4.5 lakh crore are coming up in Rayalaseema which will provide jobs to the youth of the region.

Stating that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy has no moral right to speak about development of Rayalaseema, the Minister said they are ready for a debate on the issue on the floor of State Assembly and asked the YSRCP chief to participate in the same with his 11 MLAs.