New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition and YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and complained against the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project being taken up by the AP government. Jagan who submitted a seven-page memorandum to Modi is said to have spent most of the time explaining how the project would affect the state and alleged that it was being fast-tracked for selfish interest.

He also alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was favouring the contractors of this project by giving bonuses in addition to what has been already bid. Briefing the media, Jagan said the Naidu had failed to take into account of the Clauses 7E and 7F of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal which would give the right to the upper riparian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka the right to impound the Godavari waters if this project goes ahead.

YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy speaking to media in Delhi

The YSR Congress leader made it clear that his party was opposing the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project but not any other project underway in the state and particularly in Rayalaseema. He said in fact his party is disappointed over meager financial allocations to the Galeru-Nagari, Veligonda and Handri-Neeva projects.   Jagan requested the Prime Minister to allocate funds for the Polvaraam Project for its speedy completion as it was already declared as the national project.
He also requested the Prime Minister not to implement the Shanta Kumar Committee Recommendations as it would affect the procurement of rice from the farmers and it would also force the cultivators to sell their produce below the Minimum Support Price because it happened in 2010-2011.