'Rs 300 crore siphoned off in Pattiseema project'

YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, now on a Project Bata yatra, visited and inspected Prakasham Barrage on Thursday.

After speaking with the engineers and irrigation department officials, YS Jagan interacted with the farmers. Later he addresses the cheering crowd. YS Jagan said " Prakasham Barrage's water capacity is 3 TMC according to what engineers said, which means when water is diverted from Godavari basin to Pattiseema, there are no reservoirs to store water en route."
"The months when Krishna River is in spate are August, September and October months. The irrigation officials admitted that Godavari too would be in spate during the same time. Sans storage facility, the diverted water would go waste," he said.
Polavaram Project has a water storage capacity of 124 TMC. After flood season, the right wing will release 80 TMC and left wing will release 24 TMC to Visakha region. But, no effort is being made to revive the Polavaram. ""They are not showing the determination to complete the project. It is likely that the contractors and the people behind them would siphon off Rs 300 crore in the process," YS Jagan said.
" Pulichintala project, 90 per cent of whose works have been completed, is now being sidelined by Chandrababu government. If pulichintala project is completed, 40 TMC of water could be stored." said the YSRCP chief.
Leader of Opposition also said "TDP government ordered Pattiseema to be completed in one year, for which only two contractors came forward. They have quoted 21.9% excess. TDP government ironically added 5% more excess and 16.9% bonus if the project is completed in one year which is actually the mandatory rule. Just for Rs.300 crores, Chandrababu Naidu is keeping farmers life at stake to benefit contractors."