Former Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao has written a scathing letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He asked them not to betray the state by compromising with the Center on the Polavaram issue. In a letter written to the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy yesterday, it was suggested that the Centre’s efforts to reduce the height of the reservoir to 140 feet to reduce the cost of Polavaram should not be accepted.
KVP Ramachandra Rao said that the construction of the project is in the hands of the state, so no matter how much the center tries to reduce the height, no matter how much pressure it brings, it should be reversed.
KVP Ramachandra Rao recalled that Central Water Commission had once said that if the Polavaram full reservoir level is less than 150 feet, it is impossible to get the expected benefits from Polavaram project. KVP said that state government is not in the position to spend funds for land acquisition, rehabilitation and reconstruction works, and 30,000 crores are required for relief and rehabilitation programs in the contour between Polavaram reservoir level between 140 feet and 150 feet. To reduce this cost, the central government is pressuring the state to reduce the height of the Polavaram project to 140 feet.
KVP stated in the letter that instead of yielding to the pressures and efforts of the central government and agreeing to reduce the height, the project will be completed quickly and provided to the people of the state. According to Section 90 of the AP Reorganization Act, the entire cost of Polavaram project is the responsibility of the Center and Jagan Mohan Reddy was asked not to agree to the steps taken by Center to reduce height of the project and reduce cost.