New Delhi: Minister for Water Resources, Nimmala Ramanaidu, took a strong stance against the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), accusing its leaders of neglecting the Polavaram project during their tenure and now resorting to false propaganda. Speaking to the media in New Delhi on Saturday, Ramanaidu stated that the YSRCP, during its five years in power, had effectively “dumped” the Polavaram project into the Godavari River, yet they are now talking about the project as a diversion tactic.
Ramanaidu questioned former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy about the 2020 report by IIT Hyderabad experts, which highlighted the damage to the diaphragm wall due to 23 lakh cusecs of floodwater. He pointed out that the experts had blamed the YSRCP government for halting work on the project, leading to its deterioration.
The Minister also accused YSRCP of diverting funds meant for the Polavaram project. He claimed that while the TDP government spent ₹11,720 crore on the project between 2014 and 2019, the YSRCP government had only utilized ₹4,167 crore of the ₹8,382 crore released by the Central government.
Ramanaidu emphasized that the TDP-led NDA government is committed to completing the Polavaram project on time and will take action against those responsible for revising the project estimates.
