The state government will overcome all hurdles and complete the Indira Sagar Polavaram irrigation project at any cost, chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has declared.
Addressing a series of public meetings in Narasapuram and Palacole in West Godavari district on the last leg of his Indiramma Batta on Sunday, he said that the Polavaram project would benefit not only the people of Andhra Pradesh but also of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. ‘’Like the way we have entered into an agreement with Maharashtra for completing the Pranahita-Chevella project, we will enter into agreements with Odissa and Chhattisgarh to see that the mutually beneficial project is completed at the earliest,’’he said.
Speaking to mediapersons later, he brushed aside the CAG report on coal as just another report to give an insight into the situation. On road and buildings minister Dharmana’s resignation issue, he said that his name was only mentioned in the chargesheet and they were looking into the issue.
About the Kolleru lake issue, he said they asked the central government to downsize the lake area from 5 contours to 3 contours. ‘’If the Centre refuses it, we will ask to pay the compensation for the 17,000 acres of Jeeraithi lands. Stating that the state has received less rain than expected, he advised the farmers to go in for irrigated dry crops.
Laying the foundation stone for a Rs 100-crore International Lace Trade Centre at Rustumbadh near Narasapuram, he said the government would take all possible measures to provide international market for the lace products of Narasapuram. ‘’UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is very much committed to women’s empowerment and the state government was following her lead and introduced several welfare and development schemes for women,’’ he claimed.
Pointing out that out of 68 lakh lace product makers in the country, 1.25 lakh were in West Godavari, he said modern equipment would be installed at the trade centre for helping those women.
Union minister of state for handlooms and textiles Panabaka Lakshmi too promised timely support from the central government.
FARM MECHANISATION: Addressing another public meeting, Kiran Kumar Reddy said his government had allocated Rs 2,500 crore for farm mechanisation and reiterated that the farm sector was always a top priority to the government. He said that aqua exports from the region were of the order of Rs 11,000 crore