CM Kiran diverts water from YSR District

Kadapa: The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, reportedly called for tenders five days ago to divert water from Jharikona Project to his native Palamaner constituency in Chittoor district. The move caused concern to people in Kadapa. Jharikona project was planned near Sambepalle in YSR district and KV Palle in Chittoor district to provide drinking and irrigation water to Sundupalle, Sambepalle and Rayachoti areas. The project construction reached final stage.

Drinking water problem was severe in Rayachoti constituency and people are forced to purchase water throughout the year. Former chief minister Y.S. Raja-sekhar Reddy started Jharikona project to solve the problem. On coming to know of water diversion, leaders of all parties in Rayachoti constituency decided to oppose it. Several irrigation projects were started under Jalayagnam in Kadapa district by YSR. He also allocated funds to them.

Works of these projects reached final stage. However, they may be delayed as the Chief Minister has not sanctioned funds to them. Development works were stopped in the midway in Kadapa district after the death of YSR. Meanwhile, the Central government has decided to allocate 600 acres out of 6,000 acres procured by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation at Kopparthi in Chintakommadinne mandal for the Bharat Dynamics Limited arms unit. It is learnt that the Chief Minister is planning to shift the unit to the Chittoor district.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy is also reportedly diverted 12,000 quintals of groundnut seed from Kadapa to Chittoor district. Farmers in Kadapa district were opposing the diversion.