AP CM Jagan says, three more years needed to complete Polavaram

By Our Special Correspondent

While special category status is a major issue during the 2019 elections in Andhra Pradesh, the Polavaram project is likely to become a major electoral issue on which the ruling YSRCP and the opposition parties will clash.

In June 2019, Opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the Polavaram project is a long-standing dream of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

The late Chief Minister Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy gave a form to these dreams and launched the project during his reign. But under the TDP regime it became a symbol of rampant corruption. He said that knowing that TDP is not capable of managing the project; people have given the crown to YSRCP.

However, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that it will take more than three years to complete the project.

The reason they are now saying that the R&R package will cost more than Rs 20,000 crore and that is their top priority. He said that central assistance is mandatory for the R&R package.

The Center has not reimbursed the Rs 2,900 crore spent by the state so far. Speaking during a visit to the flood affected areas of Chintoor, Jagan said that he will strongly demand the Center to provide necessary funds for the R&R package.

Criticizing the TDP government on this statement, the YSRCP said that it would pressurize the Center to give a special package if it gets a full majority in the Assembly and Lok Sabha, but now the people have backed down even though they have given a majority.

Now excuses are being made to delay the completion of the Polavaram project by another three years.

He said that the government has crippled the Polavaram project after the Chief Minister said that the Polavaram project will be filled to its full capacity only after the displaced victims are given full compensation and sent to the resettlement colonies.