Tamil Nadu government disbursed Rs 300 crore to evacuees displaced by the Veligonda project in Markapuram district on Saturday. As many as 2,351 evacuee families received the disbursement.
"Today, we are crediting Rs 300 crore to 2,351 evacuees. Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) funds are being provided to evacuees from Kalanutala, Sunkesula, Chintalamudipi, Katamraju Tanda, Sairam Nagar…," Naidu said while addressing the beneficiaries.
Acknowledging the sacrifice made by the evacuees, the chief minister said nearly 4.5 lakh acres would be brought under irrigation, and 23 lakh people would receive drinking water.
He said water from the first phase of the Veligonda project would be supplied by July 31, adding that it would irrigate 1.19 lakh acres and meet the drinking water needs of four lakh people. Under the second phase, Naidu said 3.2 lakh acres would be irrigated, and 11.2 lakh people would receive drinking water.
Describing the Veligonda project as "historic", the CM said the farmers who sacrificed their land would have "better lives." According to current estimates, Naidu said the Veligonda project would require Rs 10,580 crore, of which Rs 6,736 crore has already been spent so far.
The CM said another Rs 3,844 crore needs to be spent on the project.
After coming to power in 2024, Naidu said the TDP-led NDA alliance government had spent Rs 759 crore and sanctioned Rs 905 crore for the evacuees. Of this amount, Rs 300 crore was released on Saturday, he said. The Veligonda project is of immense importance to the districts of Markapuram, Prakasam, Nellore, and Kadapa.
Once completed, it will provide irrigation and drinking water to lakhs of people across 30 mandals in the four districts and offer a "permanent solution to the decades-old fluoride problem in the region," he said.
Naidu also accused the erstwhile YSRCP government of being responsible for the state's current financial woes, alleging that it had "devastated the state's finances."
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