Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Ponnala assails JP’s views on irrigation

HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah has strongly criticised Loka Satta president N. Jayaprakash Narayan for his reported statement against irrigation projects and instead seeking investment in infrastructure and industries.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, the Minister said the views expressed by Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan revealed that he remained ignorant on various issues of society in spite of his administrative experience.

He said the various irrigation projects taken up under Jalayagnam would provide gainful employment to agriculture families. “Will this be possible if the funds are kept in a bank?”, he asked, citing the suggestion made by JP that the funds could be deposited in banks and industrialisation taken up with interest accruing on that to create jobs. He said the Government had taken up Jalayagnam as water was the fundamental basis for development and referred to the Telugu Ganga and other projects launched by the NTR Government earlier.

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