YSR Was the Light for Veligonda, Chandrababu the Darkness: Y.S. Sharmila Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y.S. Sharmila Reddy said former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy played a crucial role in the development of the Veligonda Project. She claimed that nearly 82% of the project work was completed during YSR’s tenure. According to her, YSR transformed the project from a proposal into a major irrigation initiative by redesigning it, advancing tunnel and dam works, and completing key land acquisition processes. She said the project’s benefits for irrigation and drinking water in the Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa regions were the result of YSR’s Jalayagnam initiative.

Sharmila strongly criticised Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s claims regarding the Veligonda Project, alleging that the major share of the work had already been completed during the YSR government. She said claiming full credit after completing the remaining works was unfair and urged the government to focus on completing the second phase and ensuring comprehensive rehabilitation for displaced families. Sharmila maintained that YSR’s contribution to the project should be acknowledged and called for the project’s achievements not to be used merely for political credit.