Macharla MLA Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy.
| Photo Credit: HANDOUT
In a significant development, the State government has allocated about ₹600 crore for Macherla Assembly Constituency, under Phase-1 of Jal Jeevan Mission, for providing drinking water in rural areas. In fact, entire Palnadu district itself is reeling under water stress and backwardness.
Telugu Desam Party MLA Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy told The Hindu on Tuesday (March 11), during the Assembly budget session that out of the total sanctioned funds of around ₹1200 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission for providing drinking water in rural areas of Palnadu district, the government allocated more than ₹600 crore for water needs of Macherla alone. He represents Macherla in the Assembly.
Mr. Brahmananda Reddy said that Macherla town also needed funds for drinking water and the State government assured to provide them. He observed that the Jal Jeevan Mission programme was extended by the Central government based on the requests made by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He criticized that the previous YSRCP government for not taking up the decades-old project Varikapudisala and limiting itself to layinng foundation stones to mislead the public. He said that Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu sanctioned ₹15 crore for forest clearance. He said that first phase of the project cost is estimated to be about ₹350 crore and the revised cost would be around ₹500 crore. He said that it would not be more than the amount that was spent on Rushikonda palace in Vizag by former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said that if the first phase of the project is completed, then the entire Veldurthi Mandal in Macherla Assembly constituency would get water for both drinking and irrigation. He criticized the previous YSRCP government for not showing commitment to completing the project.
He also demanded that the State government establish skill centers, 100-bed hospital with neurology and cardiology specialties in Macherla. People from are Macherla forced to travel more than 100 kms for emergency services, hence the medical facilities must be improved in his constituency, he said.
Published – March 11, 2025 06:07 pm IST
