New Delhi, February 11 YSRCP member Golla Baburao questioned the Centre's allocation of ₹3,200 crore for the Polavaram irrigation project in the 2026-27 Union Budget, asking how long such meagre allocations would continue for the mega scheme.
Participating in the discussion on the 2026-27 Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha, Baburao said that the government has only allocated ₹3,200 crore for the Polavaram project.
"To my surprise, ₹3,320 crore is being allocated for the entire Pallavaram project. How many years will they continue to sanction ₹2,000 crore and ₹3,000 crore?" he said.
More than five million people in Andhra Pradesh, who depend on the Pallavaram project, are looking forward to its completion.
The Polavaram project is a multi-purpose irrigation project under construction on the Godavari River in the Eluru district and East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
"Now, the height is also being reduced from 45 metres to 41 metres. I would like to request the Union government and the finance minister to focus on this issue," he said.
He also raised the issue of the privatization of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), also known as the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
"Nobody knows how it is being privatized and for what purpose. Thousands of people are employed, and now they are being forced into early retirement," he said.
Baburao further said that despite the promise to Andhra Pradesh of setting up a Railway Zone, no notification has been issued so far.
However, he supported the budget, saying it was wonderful and marvellous. Some sectors, such as science & technology, power, and agriculture, have seen real development.
Chandrakant Damodar Handore of the Congress said this budget is not for social justice as it has reduced provisions for several welfare schemes, such as scholarships, among others.
Independent member Kartikeya Sharma supported the budget. Without taking any names, he said some people are calling the Indian economy a "dead" economy.
They should know that India has a record-high capital expenditure (capex) of ₹12.2 lakh crore, and highway construction, which was at 12 km per day, has been tripled to 34 km per day. India's electronics manufacturing has reached ₹10 lakh crore and has become the second largest mobile manufacturing country. Defence production, which was at ₹45,000 crore in 2013, is now at ₹1.5 lakh crore.
