The CAG has at last understood and praised YSR for his foresight in launching Jalayagnam.
Though it faulted the EPC system of granting projects to contractors and also giving them huge mobilization advances , the CAG has finally lauded the vision of former CM in launching the massive irrigation program to link Krishna and Godavari and also provide irrigation and drinking water to uplands of Telangana and Rayalaseema through lift irrigation schemes
YSR aimed at irrigating one crores acres additionally with an investment of Rs. One lakh crores and launched 75 projects initially. But political compulsions and feasibility pushed the agenda further. Now almost 100 projects are being implemented at a huge cost of Rs.1.86 lakh crores and CAG says the program will need another Rs.56, 000 crores in view of the massive lift irrigation projects undertaken in Telangana region.
No wonder critics of YSR should rethink and make soul searching before criticizing YSR again . About 13 projects are complete and anothe r20 will be completed this year . But the guts to take up such schemes is something only a daring political leaver with vision could attempt . The CAG report of 2012-13 says it clear terms that without YSR agriculture in AP could have become a major failure by now.
