Andhra Pradesh CM vows to complete Godavari-Banakacherla irrigation project for drought-hit Rayalaseema

TIRUPATI: Chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu vowed to complete the Godavari-Banakacherla irrigation projects interlinking works to ensure an abundant water supply to the perennially drought-prone Rayalaseema region of the state.
The CM went to the houses of the beneficiaries and distributed the NTR Bharosa pensions personally at their doorsteps at Metakatla village in Sambepalli mandal of Annamayya district on Saturday. Naidu also unveiled the statue of TDP founder and former chief minister NT Rama Rao and launched various development works.
During his interaction with people on the sidelines of his visit, Naidu regretted that the Handri-Neeva project would have been completed by 2020 if the TDP retained power in the 2019 general elections.
He blamed the YSRCP govt for completely sidelining irrigation projects in the state in the last five years. The CM assured the people of this region that the TDP govt will soon establish a canal from Thamballapalle to Srinivasapuram by calling for tenders at the earliest.
Reiterating that his vision for 2047 was to see a poverty-free Andhra Pradesh, the CM slammed the erstwhile govt for leaving behind debts to the tune of Rs 10 lakh crore.
“We repaid the debts of the YSRCP govt to the tune of Rs 22,252 crore until now. To bring back the state onto the path of progress from the ruins of the erstwhile govt, we attracted investments to the tune of Rs 7 lakh crore within a short span of 7 months after coming back to power in the state,” Naidu asserted.
Claiming that the NDA govt at the centre was providing the much-needed oxygen for the state of Andhra Pradesh, which is on a ventilator right now, the CM told the people that the govt of India allocated Rs 12,000 crore to fast-track the completion of the Polavaram project, which is a lifeline for the state.
Similarly, crucial financial support has been extended by the union govt for the construction of the capital at Amaravati and for the industrial parks at Visakhapatnam, Orvakal, and Kopparthi.
Naidu exuded confidence that around 4.5 lakh job opportunities will be created at the earliest with the help of unprecedented investments pouring into the state and that around 20 lakh jobs shall be created by the end of the five years of NDA rule in Andhra Pradesh.