Date:02/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/02/stories/2005090211870500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Home Minister launches campaign in Chittoor

Staff Reporter

PUTTUR: Blowing the bugle to initiate canvassing for the ensuing civic polls, Home Minister K. Jana Reddy on Thursday, took part in the first-ever public meeting of the Congress party in the State.

At a well-attended public meeting in Puttur, represented by party spokesperson G. Muddukrishnama Naidu, Mr. Reddy said that the Government, as part of its "Jalayagnam," was keen on realising the Galeru Nagari project, which would irrigate three lakh acres in Tirupati, Puttur and Nagari segments. The Handri Neeva and Telugu Ganga projects would also be constructed in four years. Amid a thunderous round of applause, he recalled that Muddukrishnama Naidu and himself had played a key role in getting the stone laid for Galeru Nagari by Late N.T. Rama Rao.

While promising more funds for Chittoor district, Mr. Reddy made some plain-speaking on the need for the public to vote for the Congress in the civic polls. He also allayed the fears expressed on hike in property tax.

Congress MLAs G. Kuthuhalamma (Vepanjeri), K.Narayanaswamy (Satyavedu) and M.Venkataramana (Tirupati), representing the segments contiguous to Puttur, also took part.