Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday announced the setting up of an integrated steel plant at Kadapa and construction of Rajoli and Jaladarasi reservoirs on Monday. Jagan said that he would lay the foundation for the Kadapa steel plant, a long pending demand in the region, on December 26.
The setting up of the Kadapa steel plant was an assurance made to the state by the Centre in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Though the AP CM has made the announcement, a final call on funding the steel plant has to be taken by the NDA government.
This, however, is not the first time an announcement regarding the steel plant is being made. Former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, had even laid the foundation stone for the project in Kambaladinne in Mylavaram mandal on December 27, 2018. However, there has been no progress with the project since then.
For Jagan, setting up the steel plant was an election promise. He made this announcement during his first visit to the district after getting elected. "I will come to Jammalamadugu again on December 26, and lay the foundation for the steel plant. Not just laying the foundation, I will ensure that the steel plant is constructed in three years and jobs are provided to 20,000 people," the Chief Minister said.
The CM also laid the foundation stone for a Banana Research Station at Pulivendulaa and promised to take up the project of building Rajoli and Jaladarasi reservoirs on the Kundu river to provide water for irrigation at Kadapa district. The Rajoli reservoir would have a water capacity of 3 TMC while the Jaladarsari reservoir will have 1 TMC capacity. Water from the Kundu river will also be lifted to the Brahmasagar reservoir, the construction for which will also begin on December 26 this year. The two reservoirs at Kadapa would help irrigate 95,000 hectares of land served by the ayacut of KC Canal, said Jagan.
The CM also said that the Chennur sugar factory will be reopened with officials estimating that Rs 60 crore is needed for this purpose. The state government has also announced that it would provide Rs 34,000 crore farm loans this year, reported TNIE.