Pawan Kalyan Lays Foundation for Prakasam Water Project, Slams YSRCP Over Neglect and Land Grabs
Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan came down heavily on the previous YSRCP government during a public address in Narasimhapuram, Prakasam district. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for a major drinking water project under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Pawan Kalyan accused the former administration of neglecting essential public needs and indulging in intimidation and land encroachments.
“The YSRCP has reached this low point because of its bullying and threats against ordinary citizens,” Pawan said. Referring to statements from YSRCP leaders about returning to power in 2029, he remarked, “Power isn’t something to be taken for granted—we’ll see how you return to power.”
Focus on Drinking Water Crisis
Pawan Kalyan emphasized that his primary objective is to resolve the long-standing drinking water crisis in Prakasam district. He stated that the Veligonda project alone needs ₹4,000 crore, and highlighted the indifference of the previous regime towards the Jal Jeevan Mission, which is aimed at ensuring clean drinking water in water-scarce regions.
“The Centre informed us that it is stopping the Jal Jeevan Mission, saying water provision is a state subject. I met Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and requested urgent support. We explained that ₹84,000 crore is required to address water scarcity in the state,” he said.
The Deputy CM announced that the first phase of the project has now commenced with ₹1,290 crore, marking the largest-ever drinking water initiative in Prakasam since independence. This phase aims to benefit more than 10 lakh people in the region.
Criticism of Past Governance
Criticizing the previous government, Pawan Kalyan stated, “They never initiated a serious drinking water scheme. All they did was lay foundation stones before elections and forget the projects later.” He promised to personally oversee the progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission and ensure completion within 18 to 20 months, provided the funding is released on time.
Action on Temple Land Encroachments
In a strong statement, Pawan also accused the previous administration of grabbing temple lands. “Wherever there were vacant temple lands, they were encroached and looted,” he said, referring specifically to the lands belonging to the Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy temple. He asserted that the coalition government is committed to recovering and protecting all encroached temple lands. The event was attended by ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Dola Balaveeranjaneyaswamy, and several local representatives.
