Chimakurthy: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday announced that Poola Subbaiah Veligonda Project will be completed and dedicated to the nation by September 2023.

Jagan unveiled the statues of former Chief Minister of erstwhile AP Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy and the former MLA B Subba Reddy of Chimakurthy constituency. AP CM in his address in a public meeting on the occasion said that former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy had initiated the irrigation project which has two tunnels, 18.8 km and 18.78 km long, Jagan said, adding that works for 11.58 km of the first tunnel and 8.74 km of the second were completed during his tenure.

        Jagan also promised to grant Rs 20 crore for the construction of a new ZP building in Chimakurthy. He also vowed to convert Mogigundla pond in Thullur mandal into a mini- reservoir and name it after Buchepalli Subba Reddy.

Chandrababu Naidu’s government had only completed 4.33 km and 2.35 km of work for both tunnels between the years of 2014 and 2019. The current government has completed construction of the first tunnel. Work for 3.96 km of the second tunnel is remaining, which will be completed by September 2023, he said.

Jagan reintroduced slab system for collecting seigniorage fee to benefit over 7K granite cutting and polishing units in and around Chimakurthy which is known for its world-famous galaxy granite.

Jagan said the units processing up to 22 cubic metres of granite in Prakasam district would be charged Rs 27,000 as seigniorage fee per single blade and Rs 54,000 per multi-blade. In North Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, the fee will be Rs 22,000 per single blade and Rs 44,000 per multi-blade granite. The Government’s decision will benefit thousands of workers dependent on these small scale granite units, he added.

YS Jagan also announced a cut of Rs 2 per unit on power charges for small scale granite industries under both high-tension (HT) and low-tension (LT) categories. Hailing his father as a leader who prioritized welfare of the people, Jagan reiterated that if his father took one step, he will take four steps to ensure the welfare of poor and downtrodden. Good people like YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Buchepalli Subba Reddy never die, they live in the hearts of people forever, he said.