The poor functioning of Chagalnadu irrigation project is a glaring example for the apathy of state government. The neglect of the project has left the farming community in the lurch as water fails to reach the tail-end areas of the constituency.
The project was completed eight years ago at an estimated cost of `65 crore and was aimed at supply water to 34,000 acres of land in the constituency for cultivation. Two pumps have not been working since the past two years and the government has not taken up any repair works due to paucity of funds. As much as `four crore is need to take up the works.
“As we are in upland areas, we do not get sufficient water due to which crops are damaged,” N Rama Rao, a lemon orchard farmer said.
Another major problem is that of house sites. Many poor people in the constituency are facing troubles due to delay in allotment of house sites to them. The government had allotted 14 acres of land in Rajanagaram for setting up a dumping yard under the Rajahmundry Municipal Corporation. But, former minister Jakkampudi Ramamohan Rao succeeded in getting the allotment cancelled and said that the land would be given to the poor. However, from the last five years, the land has been lying vacant and has not been allotted to the eligible beneficiaries. As many as 800 poor people can be accommodated in the land.
There is a dearth of link roads for many roads in the constituency resulting in trouble for the residents of the constituency.
Drinking water issue is another problem faced by the residents of the constituency. In Rajanagaram mandal, ground water is available only at a depth of 50 feet. As the mandal lies in an upland area, water problem has become rampant. “I have two acres of land but I cannot take up cultivation in them as there is no water,” rues Subba Raju, a farmer.
Sitting MLA:
Pendurthi Venkatesh
Party: Telugu Desam Party
Votes polled: 51,520
Margin of victory: 6,936
Runner-up: Chitturi Ravindra
Party: Congress
Votes polled: 44,584
Total electors: 1,64,831
Men: 81,110
Women: 83,721
Poll percentage: 86.53
Total votes polled: 1,42,552
No of contestants: 10
Men: 10
Women: 0
No of polling stations: 188
Avg per polling station: 877
