Veligonda Project Is a Lifeline - Former CM Y.S. Jagan

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said he was happy to see the Veligonda Project becoming a reality and described it as a lifeline for farmers and families affected by fluorosis. He said the project was the dream of his father, former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and claimed that his government completed the challenging twin tunnels and dedicated them to the nation in 2024.

Jagan criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over the publicity surrounding the project, alleging that attempts were being made to take credit for work completed under previous governments. He cited the total twin-tunnel length of 37.587 km and claimed that 20.333 km was completed during the YSR-led construction phase, 6.686 km during Naidu’s 2014–19 tenure, and the remaining 10.568 km during his own government’s tenure. He said Tunnel-1 and Tunnel-2 were completed in January 2021 and January 2024 respectively, with the twin tunnels dedicated to the nation on March 6, 2024.

Jagan also urged the government to complete the super-speciality hospital at Doranala and the Markapuram government medical college and to address the rehabilitation and compensation concerns of displaced families. He called for the Nallamala Sagar to be filled and for irrigation and safe drinking water to be provided to the affected regions.