Centre Delaying Polavaram Funds: YSRCP MP Margani Bharat

Jul 22, 2021, 17:46 IST

NEW DELHI: Parliament Monsson Sessions 2021: YSRCP MP Margani Bharat said that the Union Jal Shakti Minister was given notice about the irrigation projects. He, along with MPs Bellana Chandrasekhar, Dr M Gurumoorthy and Nandigama Suresh, held a press meet at Vijay Chowk in Delhi on Thursday. He stated that that the funds due from the Centre for the Polavaram project should be released immediately. Expressing his ire at the Centre for the undue delay in not giving funds despite the fact that the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was reviewing the work on the Polavaram project from time-to-time and was progressing at a brisk pace.

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"The water level in the reservoir at Coffer Dam has risen due to the recent rains. Villages are at risk of flooding if they are not evacuated during the monsoon season. Revised estimates for Polavaram must be approved. It will be completed by 2022 if the Centre releases the funds on time. We ask the Centre to fulfill the guarantees in the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014. Chandrababu Naidu committed a grave injustice to AP by accepting the Central package in lieu of the status. Even as we (YSRCP MPs) are fighting for the rights of the State in the Parliament, the TDP MPs are watching the issue without any consideration. We will continue to fight in the Parliament till the Centre takes notice and State demands are met, ” the YSRCP Chief Whip clarified.

YSRCP MP Margani Bharat questioned TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu as to how he had accepted the package offered by the Centre in lieu of the Special Category Status. Because of such an act of ‘surrender’ people are suffering today, he decried. As a result of the TDP agreeing to the Central funds at old prices for the Polavaram project we are at loss, the MP stated. The YSRCP MP also reminded that the TDP had asked the Central government to accord national status to the Polavaram project.

Bharat stated that unless and until the Centre approves the revised estimates and the funds released phase-wise, they would continue the protest in the Parliament until the demands are met. He also stated that the Center should play a larger role and do justice for AP in the ten years since the State Reorganisation Act has been in force.

While Rs 2,100 crore was due to the seven backward districts, only Rs 1,050 crore was released. Bharat demanded that a KBK-style package (Kalahandi Balangir Koraput Region -Odisha)be given to them. The TDP for its own selfish motives has literally put the State and its people under risk, he alleged. We will agree on a debate on the COVID situation in the house, but not on other issues, the Rajamundry MP stated emphatically.

YSRCP Parliamentary party leader and MP V Vijayasai Reddy, MPs Mopidevi Venkataramana, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy again issued notices under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha seeking permission to debate on issues of the Special Category Status, Polavaram Project funds, DISHA Bill, against the privatization of Visakhapatnam steel plant for the third day in the Parliament Monsoon sessions.