Shocked by the letter written by the Union water resources ministry official asking the Andhra Pradesh government to put in abeyance the fresh tenders for construction of Polavaram head works and canals works, Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has decided to confront the Centre with a strong protest.
Making a statement in the assembly, Naidu alleged that some people at the Centre were trying to stall the Polavaram works and they got a letter written by an official who was to retire in three days.
“We have called for fresh tenders for Polavaram spill way works only after talking to Union minister Nitin Gadkari. We will take up the matter with him once he returns from London. If the Centre tries to create hurdles, we will give the project back to them and ask them to complete the works within the deadline,” he said.
He pointed out that the project cost had gone up only because of the increase in resettlement and rehabilitation costs.
“We have to shift 93,000 girijan families to other places and acquire another 60,000 acres. The R&R package cost has gone up because of the new land acquisition act of 2013,” he said.
Using the occasion to take potshots at the Centre, Naidu said he had agreed for the special financial package in lieu of the special category status in the best interest of the state, since it would bring immediate benefits to the state.
He reminded that he had gone to New Delhi as many as 62 times to secure the benefits to be given to the state under AP Bifurcation Act.
“We did not want to do any politics, but wanted quick solution to the problems being faced by the state. We are answerable to the people on the package. But, many components of the package are yet to be sanctioned,” he lamented.
Naidu said he had been maintaining a lot of restraint only because the BJP was his party’s alliance partner.
“But I will not compromise, if the Centre goes back on its promises and create hurdles for the state development,” he said.
