CPI(M) opposes redesign of Sitarama project, takes out protest rally in Kothagudem

Former MLA and party state secretariat member Julakanti Ranga Reddy said the struggle for the supply of Godavari water to farmers in the district through Sitarama project would be intensified

Kothagudem: A massive protest rally was taken out here on Saturday by CPI(M) district committee demanding that the water from Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project be given to agricultural lands in Kothagudem district.

Speaking at the district conference held later, former MLA and the party state secretariat member Julakanti Ranga Reddy said that the struggle for the supply of Godavari water to the farmers in the district through the Sitarama project would be intensified.

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There were three Ministers in the district and they were meting out injustice to the farmers of the district. It was wrong not to supply irrigation water to the farmers who have given their lands for the project, he said.

Ranga Reddy sought to know for whose benefit the project designs were being changed and whether the farmers of the district would be treated unfairly for the sake of the benefit of the Ministers.

Due to the change in designs the reservoirs that were planned to be built in the district have been abandoned and it was a grave injustice to the people of the district.

The farmers in the district should come together beyond politics to fight for their rights. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy should respond to the issue and build the project according to the old design, he demanded.

CPI (M) state secretariat member Pothineni Sudarshan demanded that the MLAs, MLCs and MPs in the district respond and fight against injustice being done to the farmers in Kothagudem district.

He said the farmers in the district were facing problems due to the diversion of Godavari waters. He called on the farmers not to launch a movement for Godavari waters from the Sitarama project.

Party district secretary Maccha Venkateshwarlu demanded that Godavari water should be supplied to all the tanks in the district through the project. The distributary canals should be completed at the earliest to supply water to the lands in the district, he demanded.

Party state committee members Annavarapu Kanakayya, AJ Ramesh, district leaders MB Narsa Reddy, K Pullaiah, Karam Pullaiah, Likki Balaraju, A Satyanarayana, Repakula Srinivas and others participated in the protest.