Jupally admits Palamuru remained backward under United Andhra Pradesh

Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao criticised successive governments for neglecting Palamuru district, citing migration, drought and suicides as persistent issues. He defended the BRS government’s push for the Gollapally reservoir project.

Hyderabad: Excise Minister Jupally Krishna Rao said the erstwhile Palamuru district remained backward during the united Andhra Pradesh period. He said the district was known for migration, drought and suicides. He added that the issue was not limited to the Congress or the united Andhra Pradesh government.

“Regardless of whether it was Congress or Telugu Desam rule, Palamuru remained underdeveloped. It is a fact,” he said at a press conference here on Friday.

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The Minister recalled that when the Andhra Pradesh government drew water illegally from the Krishna river in the name of power generation, Congress leaders had objected. He said this forced the withdrawal to stop. He also questioned the objections to the construction of the Gollapally reservoir. He said the Bharat Rashtra Samithi government had issued orders for the project.

Meanwhile, courting controversy Congress MLA from Devarkadra G Madhusudhan Reddy alleged that paid artists were brought in for a BRS programme at Wanaparthy on Thursday.

Farmers from several villages had been protesting against the Gollapally-Chirkapally reservoir for many days. Leaders from different parties had extended support to the agitation. Former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao visited the protest camp on Thursday and persuaded the farmers to call off their agitation by offering lemon water.

Responding to his remarks, the Congress MLA claimed that the programme involved paid participants and charged that people were mobilised two days in advance.

Speaking at the press conference, he said those who attended were given liquor, food and money. He alleged that paid artists were used to project the programme as a success. He also criticised the previous BRS government over the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. He said Rs. 27,000 crore was spent, but irrigation water could not be provided even to 27,000 acres.