Amaravati, August 29: YSRCP leaders have accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of rewriting history and claiming credit for the Velugonda project. They assert that this project was primarily completed during the tenures of former Chief Ministers Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Kakumanu Rajasekhara, the state president of YSRCP’s campaign wing, spoke to reporters in Markapuram alongside former and current legislators. He stated that while Naidu laid the foundation stone for the project in 1996, he failed to advance it meaningfully during his subsequent terms.
According to YSRCP leaders, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy restructured the project under the Jalayagnam program, which included two tunnels, the Nallamala reservoir, three dams, and several feeder canals. The project’s goal was to irrigate 447,000 acres of land and provide drinking water to 1.525 million people across 30 mandals.
During the construction phase initiated under Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, 20.33 kilometers of tunneling was completed. In contrast, during Naidu’s term from 2014 to 2019, despite repeated deadlines, only 6.686 kilometers of tunneling was achieved.
YSRCP leaders noted that the remaining 10.568 kilometers were completed during Jagan’s tenure, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and technical issues with tunneling machines. Success was achieved in Tunnel-1 in 2021 and Tunnel-2 in 2024. Subsequently, Jagan dedicated both tunnels to the nation on March 6, 2024.
Out of a total of 37.587 kilometers of tunneling, YSRCP claims that 30.901 kilometers, or 82.2%, was completed during the phases initiated by YSR and Jagan, while only 17.8% was completed during Naidu’s government from 2014 to 2019.
Leaders questioned the presentation of the feeder canal lining and finishing works as if the entire project had been restarted. They also demanded the completion of the Tigleru canal before the inauguration and the full rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced families.
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