Close to a month after YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as the CM of Andhra Pradesh, activists from Rayalaseema have written a letter reiterating their demand for policies that can provide inclusive development of the region in different sectors.
Rayalaseema Civil Society Associations JAC (Joint Action Committee), a front that comprises several organisations, has written a letter to CM Jagan urging him to look into the issues beside congratulating him on coming to power.
The JAC said that the Rayalaseema people have given clear mandate to the party in the hope that the YSRCP government will work for the betterment of the state by not reinforcing the regional disparities.
The letter said that development did not come to the region for the last seven decades despite there being adequate natural resources and opportunities, due to lapses and flaws in the policies.
Stating that the current irrigation projects were inadequate to serve the agriculture needs, the letter mentioned that a meagre 8.8% of the total land in the region got irrigation water.
Demanding national status for Dummugudem - Nagarjunsagar project, it said linking of Godavari and Krishna river waters can serve the irrigation needs of the region. It also sought re-setting of Srisailam project height to 854 feet and re-sharing of water to the region, besides completion of pending irrigation projects.
While seeking a Special Package on par with Bundelkhand region, the JAC also asked for rejuvenating the Penna and it's sub-rivers besides development of social forests for ecological balance of the region.
The JAC convenor said that setting up of High Court in Rayalaseema besides a second capital in the state and giving equal political representation to the area, would end the regional disparities.
The letter sought for setting up of Regional Development Councils beside fulfilling the assurances that were given in AP Reorganisation Act such as setting up of AIIMS, steel plant, railway zone in Guntakallu and several central institutions in Rayalaseema on priority basis in order to decentralise the development in the state.
JAC convenor, Bojja Dasharatharami Reddy stated that they're looking forward to the government’s intervention in solving the decade-old problems of the Rayalaseema region.
Rayalaseema is a region that is known for its agrarian crisis caused by years of drought.