'TDP govt making efforts to make AP drought-free in 5 years'

The Andhra Pradesh government is working towards making the state "drought-free" in five years by taking up irrigation and river linkage projects, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here today.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, he said the government would complete the pending irrigation projects, including the Polavaram multi-purpose project, in its tenure.
The government would provide water to Anantapur, Chittoor, and Kadapa districts in Rayalaseema region, which are among places with lowest rainfall in the country, by completing the irrigation and river linkage projects, he said.
The Polavaram project, which has been accorded national status by the Centre, would be completed during the tenure of the TDP government in the state and NDA government at the Centre, he said. "There is no compromise on this."

He said he had talks with governments of neighbouring Chattisgarh and Karnataka in a bid to enlist their support for completing the irrigation projects in the state. The government is also seeking the cooperation of Orissa for Polavaram project.
Talking about the proposed project in West Godavari district, where Godavari river water presently going waste into the sea, is planned to be diverted to Krishna river, he said the project would help in taking water to the parched lands of Rayalaseema.

Alleging that Opposition parties are twisting things with regard to the proposed project, he assured that no injustice would be done to the West and East Godavari districts on account of the project.

Unlike the previous regimes where corruption prevailed in irrigation projects, he said his government would ensure transparency in execution of the projects.
Speaking on the issue earlier, Opposition YSR Congress member Visweswara Reddy said Rs 5,000 crore has already been spent on the Polavaram project and that no party, except TDP, supported the proposed project in West Godavari.