Opposition acknowledging SP govt's development works: UP CM

Opposition parties have started acknowledging that the Samajwadi Party government has worked for Uttar Pradesh's development, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today claimed.
"I am happy they have started acknowledging that SP has worked for development...Though to remain in debate they make other claims like the works being undertaken by the present government were started by them," he said after the cabinet meeting here.
Yadav was referring to BSP supremo Mayawati's claims during Ambedkar Jayanti programme here on April 14 that the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Lucknow Metro Project were started by her government.
"The manner in which SP government works is different. We work for the people, for connecting cities and villages. As far as their Noida Expressway is concerned, lathis were used, farmers died and there were irregularities in land acquisition," he said.

The land parcels given by the previous government in the project were so huge that they could have ensured expressways all over the state, the Chief Minister said.
On the Centre's report that power rostering in the state this year was more than previous years, he said "it is very difficult to understand what these Delhiwalas say. They got so many Lok Sabha seats from UP. But when we ask them to increase quota, they ask us to purchase power."

"We are working for improving power scenario like increasing production, transmission and other works", he said.
In the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister said clearance has been given for raising loan from HUDCO for the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and two tehsils, one each in Etawah and Sitapur, have been selected for developing as model tehsils.

Asserting that solving water crisis in Bundelkhand region remains top priority, Yadav said "I went to Mahoba, Chtrakoot recently and will visit Lalitpur tomorrow. Besides giving food items we are also taking steps to ensure water supply."
"There will be no dearth of funds for ensuring water for people and animals. Money has been released for handpumps besides arranging water tankers for the villages", he said.