Veligonda credit war: Jagan and Lokesh trade claims over tunnel project
Jagan Mohan Reddy and Nara Lokesh dispute credit for Veligonda tunnels; Reddy cites father's tenure, Lokesh points to March 2024 event.
A political dispute has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over the Veligonda irrigation project, with former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and current minister Nara Lokesh trading claims about who deserves credit for the twin tunnels.
Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted that 20 of the project's 37.5 km of twin tunnels were excavated during his father's tenure. He questioned why water has not yet reached the Nallamala Sagar reservoir, noting that 26 months have passed without the project delivering water to its intended destination.
In response, Nara Lokesh shared visuals from a March 2024 event, describing it as an inauguration without water. His remarks appeared aimed at countering the former chief minister's claims about the project's progress and completion status.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political friction over infrastructure projects in the state, with both leaders seeking to claim credit for development work while questioning the other's contribution to the project's current state.