Dr. Babu Jagjeevan Ram Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi project envisaging providing assured irrigation facility to 1.3 lakh acres in Visakhapatnam district will be completed by the May-end next year, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said.

Laying the foundation stone for the Phase-I of the project at Chodavaram on Thursday evening, the Chief Minister said that the government was according a top priority to irrigation.

Describing the Polavaram project as  the lifeline of Andhra Pradesh , Mr. Naidu said that 65 % of the works under the Polavaram Left Main Canal (PLMC) project had been completed and the remaining would be done by May next year.

 The project will ensure that every acre of land in Visakhapatnam district gets water for irrigation,  he said.

Reiterating the the government had big plans for linking of rivers, he said the Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Bahuda, Penna and Krishna rivers would be inter-linked to prevent drought situation and provide irrigation facility to all districts in the State when there was no rain.

 The government is doing its best, despite the hurdles being created by the Centre. We have signed several MoUs worth ₹16 lakh crore for setting up of industries. Once, the projects are completed, there will be no more unemployment problem in the State, Mr. Naidu said while addressing the gathering.

Slams Opposition

Making a scathing attack on the Opposition parties, the Chief Minister said while one party was resorting to the   kodi katti drama (drama with a knife used in rooster fights), the other was only finding fault with the TDP government.

 But, none is questioning the Modi government over its failure to fulfil the promises made to the State in the aftermath of bifurcation,  he said.

Referring to YSRCP and the BJP, the Chief Minister said these two parties, which did not support the  Dharma Porata Deeksha  of the State government, had no right to approach the people for votes. He urged to people not to be carried away by the  false propaganda.

Housing project

Referring to the welfare schemes being implemented by the government, Mr. Naidu said 27 lakh houses had been sanctioned to beneficiaries in the State and those would be completed soon.

Mr. Naidu called upon the farmers to cooperate with the revenue and irrigation officials by part with their lands for the construction of the Sujala Sravanthi project, which was meant for their welfare. Mr. Naidu promised fair compensation to them.