Guntur: MLC KRJ Bharat emphasized that the credit for bringing Krishna waters to Kuppam solely belongs to the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy and his son, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. During a media briefing at the YSR Congress Party central office in Tadepalli on Tuesday, he denounced the misleading narratives propagated by the TDP and certain media outlets. Bharat pointed out that under the TDP administration (2014–2019), the Kuppam canal project faced severe budget overruns without reaching completion. Originally projected at Rs 293 crore, the budget ballooned to Rs 413 crore and ultimately reached Rs 574.96 crore, yet significant portions of the project remained unfinished.
Bharat accused Chandrababu Naidu of staging a publicity event in Narnapalle, falsely asserting that he had provided water to Kuppam. By 2019, when YS Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office, 103 essential structures, including a critical railway under-cross tunnel valued at Rs 85 crore, were still incomplete, with contractors focusing only on lucrative tasks. YS Jagan, adhering to his commitment, took swift action—issuing notices, changing contractors, and finalizing the project. In 2022, he kept his promise by supplying Krishna waters at Ramakuppam. Bharat criticized Chandrababu Naidu for allocating Rs 161 crore again in 2024 for ‘lining works’ to the same contractor who previously delivered subpar results.
