Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who released a white paper on irrigation here today, said the state would be made drought-free through river-linking, rainwater harvesting and dip irrigation system so as to achieve 20 per cent agricultural growth.
The white paper is titled 'Water and Growth'.
The linking of Godavari and Krishna rivers was complete, the Chief Minister said, adding that all the 40 major and minor rivers in the state would be linked to create a "smart water grid".
The purpose of the grid was to transfer excess water to the areas with deficient water resources.
About 5-6 lakh farm ponds would be built to harvest the rain water in drought-prone areas at the expense of Rs 2,000 crore, Naidu said.
The government would also provide mobile sprinklers to farmers free, which would draw water from the farm ponds.
His government had taken a major initiative to improve the ground water levels in the entire state by desilting the existing tanks, construction of new tanks by linking small streams and rivers, he said.
With the implementation of desilting project and 'Neeru- Chettu program, a lot of water was saved when the three districts of Nellore, Kadapa and Chittoor received heavy rains last month, he said.
Asked when the pending bills would be taken up with only
a few days left for this session to end and what was the way forward, Naidu expressed confidence that all bills would get passed.
"You should ask this question to Mallikarjun Kharge, Ghulam Nabi Azad (of Congress) and also the parties which are coming to the Well. We are well within our right. We are saying debate, discuss and decide. They are saying we will not allow. How can I say on their behalf. But as a former parliamentary affairs minister, I am still confident, all the bills will be passed," he told reporters.
He said that when the House reassembled at 2 PM today, the agenda item was on the issue of remonetisation.
"The PM was present. Why Congress did not allow the debate. They again came to the Well of the House and started making irresponsible comments and raising slogans against the PM," he said.
He said after the PM came to Rajya Sabha in the morning, he himself stood up and said that since the PM is here, either the question hour or the debate should start.
He said that the chair asked the House whether it wanted debate or question and the Congress said they did not want question hour. He said that he had said yes when the chair asked him if the government was willing to debate.
"The Congress did not cooperate. They came to the Well of the House, created 'hungama' and did not allow the debate to go on. When the House reassembled, they again created 'hungama', they criticised the leader of the House, then they attacked deputy chairman, made sarcastic and defamatory comments against the chair which were expunged.
"It is a pitiable situation to see the chair has to expunge the remarks. Entire House should have come together to condemn this but Congress leader P Chidambaram came to the defence of Jairam Ramesh," he said.
He said that the Congress party should have a clear stand over the step of demonetisation taken by the Prime Minister, either they are with it or not. "If you are (in its favour) then say it. If there are shortcomings in it, say that as well," he said.
"They want to show the House in a poor light. They are thinking they are showing the government in poor light. They are getting exposed," he said.
"This is what has rattled Congress and some other parties.
Sensible politicians and parties who have their ear to the ground know this fact. Why did Nitish Kumar and Navin Patnaik support note withdrawal and even called for more measures to address corruption and related issues," he asked.
Recalling the earlier occasions, Naidu said the Janata experiment came with the purpose of bringing democracy back.
"We have seen the United Front which had become a divided front. We have seen a National Front, which had become a notional front.
"The Third Front experiment also, they remained a poor third. In 1977, the realignment was to get democracy back to the people. But all others were propelled and then ego clashes came.... That's why the Janata experiment failed," the senior minister said.
Referring to the talk about realignment of Opposition parties, Naidu said that it will be like a "hot balloon".
"It will go up and then burst. The only realignment what we are witnessing is more and more people coming to support Modi," he added.
"And we have reports coming from UP, newer sections, people who were keeping distance from BJP earlier, particularly sections of the lowest strata, they are all moving towards BJP after the demonetisation or remonetisation.
"This will I am sure gain further momentum as the fruits of anti corruption vaccine administered by Modi become visible."
Accusing the Opposition of blindly opposing demonetisation, Naidu said that they first called for 'Bharat bandh' and when they found no response, they tried to distance themselves.
Congress said they had never given a call for a bandh as did other parties like TMC, Naidu said.
Secondly they gave a call for Aakrosh rally, that too was a flop, he added.
"Thirdly now, they are saying they will go to the people. That is the best thing they should do. They should go to the people. We have been going to the people," Naidu said.
He said the Prime Minister and also BJP chief Amit Shah had been addressing meetings and rallies across the country from Goa to Belgaum to Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh and northeast.
