Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Govt. fails to utilise Central funds: YSR

By Our Staff Reporter

WARANGAL MAY 3. The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, attributed the backwardness in the rural areas to the indifference of the Government which failed to utilise over Rs. 37 crores allocated by the Centre.

Interacting with mediapersons on the 25th day of his padayatra, the Congress leader said as a result, the State Government could not get additional funds for rural development.

He disputed the claims made by the Government that it had spent over Rs. 2,000 crores under the Neeru-meeru scheme. The irrigation under tanks had come down by 90 lakh acres while under lift irrigation schemes, it had come down by seven lakh acres. "The money was misutilised by TDP leaders,'' he pointed out.

The Congress leader said the fact was endorsed by the social activist, Rajender Singh, during his visit to the Warangal district recently. "Crores of rupees was spent, but in vain,'' he pointed out adding that about 13,000 lift irrigation projects had become defunct.

Referring to the statements by different political parties over the Government's failure to tackle the drought situation, Dr. Reddy said it was a fact and the Government was answerable to people if not to political parties. According to him, the labour engaged in disiltation work was not being paid due remuneration. "The Government promised to give rice at Rs 5.50 a kg. But, they are saying rice is worth Rs. 8.50 now. Villagers are being exploited,'' he said.

The Congress leader accused the Government of diluting the cooperative sector which forced the rural poor into debt trap. Private moneylenders were squeezing the poor. Villagers were being forced to sell away their property to clear their debts.

Dr. Reddy advised the government to come out with a legislation to stop the exploitation by private moneylenders. Earlier in the day, several women at Khanapur, Anapalli hamlet, Bhudraopet, Mangalavaripeta and other villages narrated their woes and how moneylenders harassed them. They complained that the Government had failed to come to their rescue.

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