TDP National General Secretary Nara Lokesh met with farmers from Appanapalli village in the P. Gannavaram Assembly Constituency today, where he received a petition addressing various pressing issues in the area. The farmers expressed disappointment, stating that despite Chief Minister Jagan Reddy’s promise to complete the Appanapalli Lift Irrigation project within a year of assuming power, it remains unfinished after 4.5 years. They urged Nara Lokesh to prioritize the completion of this project, providing much-needed drinking water and irrigation for coconut crops in villages like Appanapalli, Manepalli, Pedapatnam, Pedapatnamlanka, and B Doddavaram.
In their petition, farmers highlighted that 2 thousand acres of groundwater have been contaminated by ONGC pipelines, and lanka lands in Appanapalli, Pedapatnam Lanka, Pasarlapudi, and B Doddavaram villages are facing erosion due to floods. The farmers requested Nara Lokesh’s assistance in constructing revetments to protect the villages from erosion. Additionally, they informed Lokesh about the decline in coconut cultivation in Konaseema, leading to migration of workers to neighboring states. They urged the TDP leader to support coconut farmers and the coir industry by providing power subsidies. The farmers also proposed the establishment of a government-purchased unit to facilitate marketing for coconut allied industries.
In response, Nara Lokesh criticized CM Jagan Reddy, accusing him of bankrupting the state and failing to complete any irrigation projects in five years. Lokesh reaffirmed his commitment to completing the Appanapalli Lift Irrigation project and resolving cultivation and drinking water issues upon assuming power. He assured the construction of revetments to safeguard villages from erosion and pledged special initiatives to support coconut farmers and create more employment opportunities.
On the other hand, Nara Lokesh’s Yuvagalam Padayatra entered the Amalapuram Constituency by the end of today. A grand welcome was extended to TDP National General Secretary by Amalapuram Constituency TDP Incharge Aithabathula Ananda Rao, along with key leaders and activists from the constituency.
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