Strongly protesting against the indifferent attitude of the both state and central governments over the fate of Polavaram project, the life-line for Andhra Pradesh, the APCC President YS Sharmila demanded that the government should clarify the height of the Polavaram project.
She asked Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to give clarification to the people whether the project will be built at a height of 41 meters or 45 meters? Sharmila said that if it is confined to a height of 41 meters, it will not be a full-fledged project, but will be a lift irrigation barrage. She reminded that the central government also allocates funds in the budget for only 41 meters.
Sharmila deplored that if it is 41 meters high, it will not be possible to provide irrigation to the 30 lakh acres that were previously set as its target. Polavaram residents met her at the Congress party office in Vijayawada and explained their problems. Speaking on the occasion, Sharmila criticized that both the Jaganmohan Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu governments have failed in the construction of Polavaram.
Sharmila recalled that 16,000 families had sacrificed the land acquired by their grandfathers and fathers for the Polavaram project. However, she deplored that justice has not been done to the residents yet. She expressed concern that many people were not given rehabilitation and that the survey was not done properly.
She strongly protested that the displaced people were given unacceptable lands and that even the lands given were submerged. Sharmila said that there were no minimum facilities in the allotted places. She is angry that the project survey was not done properly during Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime.
Sharmila demanded that the Polavaram project should be re-surveyed and an R&R package should be given. She said that 95,000 families are still waiting without receiving any benefits. Sharmila protested why no MP from the state asked in Parliament when the Center is confining the project to 41 meters.
