Chandrababu Naidu’s Tall Tales On Polavaram

Kommineni Srinivasa Rao

AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's recent statement on Polavaram did not cause much consternation.One cannot but help thinking that changing one's stand is second nature to Chandrababu Naidu, if one compares what he has been saying so far on Polavaram with his current statements. Up until now, he had declared on many occasions that water would be supplied from Polavaram in 2018 with the help of gravity. He also said that the Polavaram project would be completed in two years if the Centre released the required funds.

There is no doubt that it is the fervent wish of every citizen of Andhra Pradesh that the project should get completed. In fact the people of the state dreamt of the project and hoped that this dream would be shaped into reality long before Chandrababu Naidu came on the scene. In fact, if anything he was very critical of the project and cynical about its completion. TDP MLAs of the time E. Narayanaswamy and V. Veerabhadra Rao among others, raised strong objections and protested vehemently against Polavaram. The latter had in fact, launched a cycle yatra in protest, taking it all the way to Delhi.

Chandrababu Naidu paid no attention to Polavaram, save criticism. Later, when Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy became chief minister of the state, he focused single-mindedly on Polavaram and under his direction, the government machinery began expediting work on the project. It may be recalled that Chandrababu Naidu did not spare any opportunity when it came to criticising work on Polavaram, beginning with the digging of canals. His specious argument--How can you have canals when the project has not been completed? The truth is that it was because of Dr. YSR's commitment to Polavaram that the canals were dug, raising the hopes of the Telugu people.

The project was accorded national project status at the time of division of the state. Never did till 2014 Chandrababu Naidu claim that Polavaram was a cherished dream of a lifetime for him. As chief minister, Chandrababu Naidu once held a meeting of MPs. Back then the late Dr. YSR was a member of Parliament. Heated discussions took place at the meeting, it was reported. Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy had cautioned Chandrababu Naidu against abandoning projects once taken up and going down in history after earning this notoriety. Yet, Chandrababu Naidu's vision of several projects remained limited to the laying of foundation stones.

The same Chandrababu Naidu now sings praises of Polavaram, claiming that the project was his long-cherished dream and the mission of his life. He speaks as though it was through his effort that the project took off. No matter how many tall claims he makes on this, no one would believe him.The reason why he harps on Polavaram being his brainchild is because the people of the state know that the project was Dr. YSR's initiative. Chandrababu Naidu, therefore, hopes and acts as if people would forget this fact. He also claims that he drove the inclusion of submerged areas under Polavaram (which were in Telangana) in AP.

In fact, the Congress during its tenure, had drawn up an ordinance for the inclusion in AP, of the seven mandals likely to be submerged by the Polavaram project. As things turned out, the BJP-led government piloted this bill after the elections. Suddenly, Chandrababu Naidu wants us to believe that the entire project was conceived and carried out by him going by his publicity overdrive on this. It left people wondering whether the Centre had passed the buck on to him. A point to be noted is that the state government has no role to play in this matter. Nor does Chandrababu Naidu have anything to do with it. The contracts were approved in the Congress era after due selection. During Dr.YSR's tenure, all necessary permissions were obtained and land acquired. The Centre agreed to release the required funds and declared it a national project.

Chandrababu Naidu in fact, barely gives due credit to Prime Minister Modi or the BJP. While he has been claiming that he single-handedly powered the project, suddenly when he sensed some delay or roadblocks in the completion of the project, he started to blame the Centre for it. Media houses backing him keep airing his views blaming the Centre for everything that is going wrong with respect to the project. If he was really as passionate about Polavaram as he claims to be, he should have ensured its completion after he came to power.Instead, he focused on pumping water in the name of Pattiseema and trumpeted his achievement as the 'integration' of rivers. Neighbouring Telangana and other states questioned the rationale behind Polavaram after Pattiseema. Their question was--why should our land get submerged? Chandrababu Naidu thickened the plot saying Pattiseema should be merged with Polavaram.

Chandrababu Naidu says that the project can be completed in two years if Rs 54,000 crores were to be released additionally. This is indeed something which should cause concern in the mind of any right-thinking person. It appears as if he wants to take credit for all the positive aspects of the project, while heaping blame on the Centre and BJP for any shortcoming.There is absolutely nothing wrong if he gets the project completed and then takes some credit. But turning Polavaram into a controversial project riddled with corruption with respect to his handpicked contractors and commissions, Chandrababu Naidu became the butt of criticism. The general impression one tends to form is that he is clearly in the wrong? Why would the government agree to release Rs 54,000 crores in two years? Is Chandrababu Naidu admitting indirectly that the project can't be completed without the release of these funds? Will Chandrababu earn a good name for himself after the timely completion of the project or will it remain one of his abiding failures? Time alone will reveal the truth on this.