Date:18/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/18/stories/2007101853920400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Naidu ridiculed for claiming credit for 2-a-kg rice scheme

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister promises completion of Pranahita-Chevella project in 4 years

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy launches Indiramma Gruhapravesam programme
Georgia Tech University to come up in Shadnagar Assembly constituency in Mahabubnagar

Down to earth: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy having lunch with villagers of Kothapalli in Medak district on Wednesday.

Sangareddy: Coming down heavily on former Chief Minister N.Chandrababu Naidu for doing away with the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme, prohibition and the concessional power scheme for farmers, Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy termed the Telugu Desam as a ‘fake’ of the original TDP founded by N.T.Rama Rao.

Addressing a public meeting in Kothapalli village of Jinnaram mandal on Wednesday after launching the Indiramma Gruhapravesam programme, the Chief Minister pointed out that the TDP chief had no right to stake claim to the patent of the subsidised rice scheme as it was originally conceived by NTR.

“By scrapping the programmes once cherished by NTR, Mr Naidu had not only backstabbed the founder of the party but also the people of the State,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister assured the Narsapur legislator, Sunitha Laxma Reddy, that he would ask the irrigation engineers to look into the feasibility of including all the five mandals of the segment in the Pranahita-Chevella project.

The Chief Minister promised that the project would be completed within four years.

He also announced Rs 40 lakh each for all the five mandals for roads.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation for several development programmes.

He launched the Gruhapravesam of 87 houses taken up at a cost of Rs 27.81 lakh, Rs 1.64 crore Integrated Girls hostel, 14.2 km-long roads worth 3.58 crore, 19 works of Panchayat Raj, three 33/11 sub-stations of APCPDCL and minor irrigation works.

He also unveiled a statue of Indira Gandhi and handed over Rs. 97.20 lakh to beneficiaries under DRDA.

New university

Mahabubnagar Correspondent writes: The Chief Minister announced that a university would be established in the district next year.

Addressing a public meeting at Kothapet, a remote village of Keshampet mandal after inaugurating Indiramma houses on Wednesday evening, the Chief Minister said that this is apart from Georgia Tech University (USA) that would come up in Shadnagar Assembly constituency in the district.

He said that over 6,000 hybrid cattle would be distributed in the district under Pashu Kranthi Pathakam.

The Chief Minister said that the Government would provide subsidy to the tune of Rs.15,000 per cattle head under the scheme.

MSP for paddy

Dr. Reddy said that his Government is bringing pressure on the Central Government to announce Rs.1000 as minimum support price per quintal to paddy on a par with wheat.

He reiterated that Rs.2 per kg. rice would be reintroduced from April to 1.82 crore white ration card holders, who at present are purchasing it at Rs.5.20 per kg.