‘86 projects completed during undivided A.P. helped improve green cover in rural areas’

Senior politician of Telangana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who served as the Minister of Major Irrigation in undivided Andhra Pradesh, claimed that the 86 projects taken up and completed during his tenure helped improve the green cover in rural areas.

Mr. Lakshmaiah, who has authored a book on the 86 projects, which includes major reservoirs to small check- dams, is all set to get released soon. Ahead of its release, he offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple in Tiruchanur and Srikalahastheeswara Swamy temple in Srikalahasti on Wednesday, on the occasion of ‘Karthika Pournami’.

The former Minister attributed his contribution to the ‘Jalayagnam’ programme and his interest in agriculture and rural development right from his childhood, having grown up in rural areas.

Referring to inter-State disputes on riverwater sharing, Mr. Lakshmaiah observed that such issues should be sorted out through mutual discussion and by adhering to tribunal verdicts. He also called linkage of rivers as ‘a welcome step’, but with a rider that the policy would work only when the concerns of all the riparian States are addressed.