Hyderabad, June 14: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah dismissed demands by a section of senior Congress leaders that he resign owning responsibility for corruption in the State Government’s prestigious `Jalayagnam’’ programme started by the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
He said the allegations were baseless and so the question of quitting did not arise.
Speaking to reporters here today, he maintained that Jalayaganam was being implemented with total transparency, and added that the government had “clarified all the allegations and dispelled apprehensions over the programme by organising open debates all over the State’’.
Top priority had been accorded to the backward regions, particularly Telangana, he claimed.
On Polavaram, the minister said it was after due deliberation that the design was finalised. The Government was willing to address any doubts and also to engage in further discussions with technical experts.
–Agencies