HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday dared opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy of the YSRCP to complete all the Jalayagnam projects with the money the latter 'amassed by indulging in corruption.'

Intervening in a discussion on the interlinking of rivers and the decision of the TDP government to construct the Pattiseema lift irrigation project near Polavaram, the chief minister said, "You have huge money earned through corrupt practices. If you are sincere enough about Rayalaseema, complete all the projects taken up under Jalayagnam works with the 'corrupt' money."

He accused Jagan of stalling the government's attempt to construct the Pattiseema lift irrigation project which would transfer water from Godavari to Krishna which in turn would enable the TDP government to divert Krishna water from Srisailam to Rayalaseema. "If we spend Rs 1,300 crore on Pattiseema, farmers will get a benefit of Rs 30,000 crore. Water problem in Rayalaseema will be solved once and for all. The project is not meant to convert Jalayagnam into Dhanayagnam. I will not tolerate corruption in any form," Naidu said.

He said that Jagan was not aware that the water table levels in Rayalaseema have fallen below 1,500 ft in some places and that these places need Krishna water immediately. "Pattiseema will enable us to take 80 TMC water from Krishna to Rayalaseema which would not only be used to fill the tanks, but also recharge the ground water," he added.

The CM also accused Jagan of indulging in a false propaganda that the Pattiseema project would harm the interests of East and West Godavari districts.

Earlier in the morning, the assembly plunged into pandemonium over the Pattiseema project.