Today Andhra Pradesh Assembly turned into a classroom and chief minister Naidu donned the role of a teacher. This happened when the chief minister sought to make a statement on Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project.
Naidu, evidently jubilant over the completion of Pattiseeema, was jovial as he made the statement on the project, which he said created history of sorts. But, Jagan said it was a fraud and waste of money to tune of Rs 1600. Taken aback by Jagan’s remark, Naidu said Jagan needs a thorough lesson on irrigation so that he could understand the subject well. Stating repeatedly that he was a seven-time MLA, Naidu reminded Jagan that he was only a first-timer and difficult to grasp the subject of irrigation. “More than half of the opposition constituted first-time MLAs. I need to take a detailed lesson on ‘Irrigation’.Today is the right occasion for me to take a lessor or two on the subject of irrigation,” Naidu said. Naidu’s teacher like attitude evoked peels of laughter in the House-for the first time in the past 2 years.
The opposition members booed when when chief minister Naidu claimed that the project was completed exactly in one year and he could achieve interlinking of rivers in just one year. Naidu, who paid a visit to the project site yesterday, said the project would divert Godavari water at the rate of 8500 cusecs per day through the right canal of the Polavaram Project. As the water flow in Krishna had come down due to the projects constructed in upper reaches of river Krishna, Pattiseema Project was going to fill the Krishna barrage with Godavari water. ” It is a history of sorts in entire India. Never in the history of India, has a project been completed in one year,” he said and declared that in the same breath, Polavaram project would be completed before March 29 of 2019. The CM accused the first-time YSRC members of harming the interest of the people of Rayalaseema. ” Even if you block the flow of water, we will take Krishna water to Rayalaseema,including Pulivendula (jagan’s constituency),” Naidu asserted smiling at jagan.
But, Jagan reiterated that the project was sheer waste. ” The amount Rs 1600 crore, wasted on the Pattiseema, has gone down the drain. Because, there is no storage facility for the water in Krishna Basin. The money could well have been spent on original Polavaram or Galeru-Nagari or Handri -Niiva projects. How would the 4 TMC water the Pattiseema transfers to Krishna basin would compensate for the shortage of 180 TMC Krishna water, ” Jagan asked.
Expressing disgust, Naidu said due to inexperience it was proving difficult for Jagan to understand as complicated a subject as irrigation. He said he wants take a lesson on the subject of irrigation, if th chair permits. Jagan,however, said Naidu’s half knowledge was playing havoc with the state.” The CM is neither wise nor ignorant,” Jagan averred.
Intervening speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao said Pattiseema project had already been completed water reached the Krishna basin. ” Controversy over a project which was completed and yielding fruits is not called for,” speaker said and abruptly announced the next topic in the Agenda. When Opposition members objected to this, speaker said no discussion would be allowed on a statement which was made by the chief minister on the occasion of completion of the project.
The opposition members continued their objection even as Naidu started his statement on Dr BR Ambedkar’s 125 birth anniversary.
