At a time when Rayalaseema people are seething with anger for not locating the capital in region and for ignoring the region while setting up of major industrial projects, state government has removed the word Sri Krishnadeveraya from the name of Sri Krishnadevaraya Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Project.

The project is meant to divert Krishna water to a region which was named after Sri Krishnadevarayalu, the great emperor who ruled the entire South India. A polyglot, Rayalu (1509-1529) was known for his outstanding scholarship in Telugu language.

It was he who said “Desa bhasalandu Telugu lessa” (Telugu is greater than other languages of the country). The irrigation tanks which are still watering the arid zone are his brain-child. In commemoration of his contribution to irrigation of the region, NT Ramarao named the project project as Sri Krishnadevaraya Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Project. Today, Irrigation department issued order, signed by principal secretary Adityanath Das, removing the name of Sri Krishnadevaraya.

Taking strong ojection to the decision, Kuradi Chandrsekhar Kalkura, a known literary activist from Kurnool, said the government was hurting the sentiments of the people of Rayalaseema.

“It was small canal named after great emperor who laid foundation for modern agriculture. Removal of his name from the project of region is irrational. The decision should be revoked,” he said.YSRC MLA Y Visweswar Reddy also criticized the decision and said it was wrong to change of name of Sri Krishnadevaraya Galeru Nagari Sujala Sravanthi Project.