RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM: Former Congress MP Undavalli Arun Kumar has said it seems Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is not keen to complete the Polavaram project well in time.
Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, the former MP said the National Water Development Agency laid down several conditions while sanctioning `1,981.54 crore for the Polavaram project. One of the conditions laid down by it in an order issued on December 23, 2016 was that the Polavaram project should be completed by March 31, 2018.
If the State government fails to complete project as per schedule, the financial aid provided to Andhra Pradesh for its execution will be treated as loan. It means that the future the loan component to the State from Centre will be provided after deducting `1,981.54 crore, he said.
Arun Kumar said: “One thing I am not able to understand is when it is the responsibility of the Central Government to complete the Polavaram project which is a national project, why Naidu is taking special interest in getting the project works done. Eight months have already lapsed. But the progress of Polavaram project is not up to the mark.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee is expected to visit Polavaram project on August 18 to study its progress and submit a report to the Centre. Hence, the Chief Minister should reveal all the facts pertaining to the execution of Polavaram project.”
The former MP demanded that the Chief Minister release a white paper on Polavaram project before the end of this month to clear all the doubts of people about the progress of the project and the total expenditure incurred on it so far.
The white paper would also help clear all the apprehensions of people pertaining to its completion, he said.
Arun Kumar made it clear that there was no need for him to speak about Polavaram project in future if a white paper was released on it by the Chief Minister yielding to his demand.