KUPPAM (CHITTOOR DISTRICT ): Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday released Krishna River water to drought-prone Kuppam constituency in Chittoor district at Rajupet in Ramakuppam mandal.
Water from the Srisailam project was released through the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi Project, of which the Kuppam Branch Canal is a part, to irrigate 6,300 acres of ayacut through 110 minor irrigation tanks in Kuppam constituency and provide drinking water to 4.02 lakh people in Kuppam and Palamaneru. The 123.64-km-long Kuppam Branch Canal was constructed with Rs 560.29 crore under phase-2 of the AVR-HNSS Project.
Addressing a large public meeting at Gundusettipalli in Santhipuram mandal, the Chief Minister described the release of water as a ‘golden letter day’ in the history of the region. “On September 23, 2022, I had made a promise at a public meeting to bring Krishna water to Kuppam by completing the Kuppam Branch Canal project, which the previous regime neglected. Today, I have fulfilled my promise.”
“After travelling for 672 kilometers, Krishna water has entered Kuppam constituency from Srisailam today, creating a history,” he remarked.
Lashing out at the Kuppam MLA and TDP supremo, Jagan said, “For 35 years, Chandrababu Naidu represented Kuppam. He was the chief minister for 14 years. Yet, he couldn’t complete the Kuppam Branch Canal. Instead, he exploited it as a ‘fund-raising project,’ by manipulating estimates and awarding contracts to his cronies.” Further, he accused Naidu of neglecting the welfare and development of the constituency.
82k families in Kuppam get Rs 1,889 crore under DBT, non-DBT schemes
Stating that his government has fulfilled Kuppam’s longawaited dream, the Chief Minister said he has rewritten history with action and not empty promises.Highlighting the steps taken by his government to develop the segment, he said Kuppam was upgraded from Panchayat to Municipality. Emphasising the establishment of a Revenue Division and a police sub-division for Kuppam, he pointed out that Rs 66 crore was sanctioned for various development works in Kuppam municipality and Rs 100 crore to take up works in four mandals of Kuppam constituency, besides giving administrative approvals for the construction of a Rs 215-crore reservoir as part of the Palar project.
“The government has also given administrative approvals for the construction of two reservoirs at Madanapalle near Shantipuram mandal and Yamigani Palle near Gudipalli mandal with a cost of Rs 535 crore. These reservoirs will irrigate an additional 5,000 acres,” he explained.
Asserting that it is time for a change in the constituency, Jagan said, “Naidu has done injustice to the people of Kuppam. After facing humiliating defeat in Chandragiri constituency in the 1983 elections, the TDP supremo used money power to capture Kuppam, a BC constituency. For the past 35 years, he has maintained control over Kuppam through his financial influence.” Seeking a public mandate for the YSRC in Kuppam, Jagan announced MLC KRJ Bharat as the MLA candidate of the party for the segment. He promised that if Bharat is elected, he will be given a spot in the Cabinet.
Comparing the governance of the current YSRC and the previous TDP, the Chief Minister said, “Naidu allocated only Rs 200 crore to provide Rs 1,000 each as social security pension to just 31,000 beneficiaries in Kuppam. In contrast, over the last 57 months, my government has spent Rs 507 crore solely for pensions in the constituency by hiking the sum to Rs 3,000 and extending it to 45,374 beneficiaries.”
Elaborating on other schemes implemented in Kuppam, Jagan pointed out, “Our government has disbursed benefits worth Rs 1,400 crore through DBT and Rs 1,889 crore through both DBT and non-DBT in the constituency. The aid has reached 82,039 of the total of 87,941 families in Kuppam.” Further, he accused Naidu of shutting down the Chittoor dairy for the benefit of his company, Heritage Group. He noted that the YSRC government revived the dairy sector by partnering with Amul to ensure fair prices for farmers.