STILL OUR LEADER: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, after unveiling the statue of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, at Metpally in Karimnagar district on Sunday.

METPALLY (KARIMNAGAR DT): The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy, said efforts would be made to develop Karimnagar district on a par with East and West Godavari districts by taking up all irrigation projects on the Godavari in the district.

Speaking after laying the foundation for the SRSP flood flow canal and the Rallavagu projects here on Sunday as part of the Rajiv Nagara Baata programme, Dr Reddy said that the Congress would not just lay the foundation for projects but would complete all the irrigation projects within the stipulated time. He said that they had laid the foundation for the Yellampalli project and renamed it after the former Assembly Speaker, D Sripada Rao, and intensified the construction work.

Poll promises

Alleging that the TDP had neglected the irrigation projects of the region during its 10-year regime, Dr Reddy said that the SRSP flood flow canal project had progressed to a distance of only 28 km in the TDP regime. He said that the Congress had allocated Rs 1,200 crores for the Flood Flow Canal for its early completion and added that the Rallavagu project, which was pending since 50 years, would also be completed. Promising to develop the Telangana region and ending its backwardness, he said that he would fulfil all his election promises.

Quota for Muslims

He said that the Godavari water would be lifted to the Upper Manair Dam (UMD) within one year and added that the Government would accord priority for the optimum utilisation of the Godavari water in the region.

Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru's statement that `Projects were modern temples,' the Chief Minister said that he would fulfil the dreams of India's first Prime Minister by completing all the irrigation projects with an outlay of Rs 46,000 crores in the State. Dr Reddy also said that at least Rs 2 crore worth loans would be distributed to the women SHG members in each mandal at the rate of 4 per cent interest.

Dr Rajasekhara Reddy said that the Government was taking all possible steps to provide 5 per cent reservations for Muslims in education and employment opportunities within two months. Addressing roadside meetings during the Nagara Baata programme, he said that the Government was according priority for solving the drinking water problem in the State on a war-footing and providing employment to farm labourers as well as for construction of houses.

Sops for Metpally

JAGTIAL: Earlier, Dr. Rajashekhara Reddy made a whirlwind tour of the Metpally, Korutla and Jagtial municipalities in the division as part of the Rajiv Nagara Baata programme amid tight security.

The Chief Minister announced sops for the new Metpally Municipality, which was upgraded from a gram panchayat. He announced release of Rs 2 crores for taking up roads and drains in the town and also another Rs 1.5 crore for the drinking water requirements of the town. He also said that he would consider creation of a revenue division in Metpally.

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