Archive · 1 Sep 2026
YSRCP Leaders Accuse Naidu of Claiming Veligonda Credit
YSRCP leaders said Chandrababu Naidu is claiming credit for the Veligonda water project.
They said Naidu opened the project in 1996 but did not make much progress during his next eight years in office.
They credited the governments of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with completing most of the tunnel work.
The project has two tunnels that carry water toward the region.
One report said more than 31 kilometres of the tunnels were completed under YSR and Jagan.
Another report said 20.333 kilometres were completed under YSR’s government and 6.686 kilometres during the TDP government from 2014 to 2019.
The two reports give different breakdowns of which government completed the remaining tunnel work.
The YSRCP leaders also criticized the government for not completing aid and rehabilitation for families displaced by the project.
YSRCP leaders accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of taking credit for the Veligonda Project.
They said Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governments completed more than 31 kilometres of tunnel work.
The leaders said 6.68 kilometres was completed during Naidu’s tenure and 10.56 kilometres after Jagan became chief minister.
Tunnel-1 was completed in January 2021 and Tunnel-2 in January 2024, according to the YSRCP leaders.
They questioned why rehabilitation and compensation for displaced families remained incomplete after 27 months of the coalition government.
- Who
- YSRCP leaders, including MLC Lella Appi Reddy and former MLA TJR Sudhakar Babu, criticized Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu; Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also made the accusation separately.
- What
- They accused Naidu of claiming credit for the Veligonda Project and questioned delays in rehabilitation and compensation for displaced families.
- When
- The YSRCP leaders spoke on Monday; Jagan Mohan Reddy made his remarks on Sunday. Tunnel-1 was completed in January 2021 and Tunnel-2 in January 2024.
- Where
- The YSRCP leaders spoke at the YSRCP Central Office in Guntur; Jagan’s remarks were reported from Vijayawada.
- Why
- They said major tunnel construction was completed under Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governments rather than during Naidu’s earlier tenure.
YSRCP’s Account
Naidu’s Reported Role
Who deserves credit
YSRCP’s Account
YSRCP leaders and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said the governments led by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan completed the project’s major tunnel works and accused Naidu of taking credit.
Naidu’s Reported Role
The reports note that Naidu laid the foundation stone in 1996, but they do not include his response to the credit allegations.
Progress during Naidu’s tenure
YSRCP’s Account
YSRCP leaders said only about 6.68 kilometres was completed during Naidu’s tenure. Jagan separately claimed that 6.686 kilometres progressed between 2014 and 2019 and that no tunnel breakthrough was achieved during that period.
Naidu’s Reported Role
The reports provide no detailed response from Naidu or the TDP disputing or confirming these figures.
Rehabilitation of displaced families
YSRCP’s Account
YSRCP leaders questioned why rehabilitation and relief compensation had not been completed during the coalition government’s previous 27 months.
Naidu’s Reported Role
The reports do not provide the coalition government’s explanation for the alleged delay.
- Project
- Veligonda Project
- Tunnel length
- About 37 kilometres; one report specifies 37.58 kilometres for the twin tunnels.
- Foundation stone
- N. Chandrababu Naidu laid it in 1996, according to the reports.
- Tunnel completion
- Tunnel-1 was completed in January 2021 and Tunnel-2 in January 2024, according to YSRCP leaders.
- YSRCP claim
- More than 31 kilometres was completed under the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy governments combined.
- Alternative breakdown
- Jagan said 20.333 kilometres was completed under Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s government and 6.686 kilometres progressed under the TDP government from 2014 to 2019.
- Unresolved issue
- YSRCP leaders said rehabilitation and relief compensation for displaced families remained incomplete after 27 months of the coalition government.
