Today chief minister Chandrababau Naidu inaugurated the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation scheme built on Godavari in West Godavari district. The project, which attracted unprecedented controversy and opposition from all political parties, is intended to transfer Godavari water to Krishna barrage.

Click here to view photos from this inauguration

CM says this is a temporary project, built at a cost of Rs 1300 cr, which would be abandoned once the Polavaram is completed. Opposition parties cried blue murder and alleged that the ad hoc project was commission- business. There is a plan to either postpone or abandon the Polavaram project, they contend.

Opposition argues that the same amount could be spent on Polavaram to expedite the completion of the project.

But, CM defends it stating that farmers can’t be made to suffer for 4 to 5 years waiting for the completion of Polavarm and Pattiseema brings the polavaram benefits 4 year in advance. Naidu argued that Pattiseema was part of Polavaram.

Telangana government, which disagrees with the argument, says Pattiseema was a separate project and had no central clearance. Even centre clarified that it was not part of Polavaram but a separate project.