Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Mr. PONNALA LAKSHMAIAH, B.E., M.S (USA), Minister, Major Irrigation, Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Member of A.I.C.C ..........

PONNALA LAKSHMAIAH B.E., M.S (USA)

Minister, Major Irrigation, Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Member of A.I.C.C

Academic Qualifications: M.S., (Mechanical Engineering, U.S.A.)
B.E., ( Mechanical Engineering, Osmania University)

Achievement and honours:

• Minister, Major Irrigation, Govt. of AP (2004 - Current)

• Minister, Govt. of AP, 1991-92

• Instrumental in launching World Bank Aided Projects for Aquaculture in Andhra.

• Chairman of Foreign Delegates Committee at AICC Plenary Session 1992, Planned and coordinated the visit of high level international delegates including former Prime Ministers

• Participation as a National Delegate to Asia Pacific Region Countries to study new avenues and mechanisms to establish indigenous Aquaculture units in Andhra Pradesh.

• Participated as a delegate in SAARC Conference on culture at New Delhi representing the State of Andhra Pradesh.

• Initiation and implementation of appropriate technology transfer/collaborative industrial agreements with Germany and Italy.

• Invited to interact (Lecture) with 1993 Batch of I.A.S at Lal Bahadur Sastri Academy, Mussori.

• Nizams Charitable Trust Scholarship for Meritorious students to study abroad.

Born in a remote village with no educated person in the family or relations for generations together, struggled very hard to come through top ranks all through. Maintaining high standards in academic studies with no assurance of adequate food and shelter and reaching the level of M.S. (Mech.Eng.) from USA has taught many a lesson of practical life to me. Having experienced and seen the stark realities of rural poverty particularly in the backward Telangana region, my first priority has been to help these communities to come out of shackles of poverty and to provide a reasonable and decent life with dignity. Accordingly, I left USA bidding good-bye to a lucrative job and comforts of life over there which has been the dream of many people and put all efforts to generate rural employment in the region of my birth place. As a first step towards that goal, man power oriented industry, viz., Poultry Breeding, has been established in the region where there was an absolute poverty thus providing ample employment opportunities to a few thousands of uneducated and unemployed people. Promotion of Dairy Units at the community level in the chronically drought prone areas has been yet another effort that I put in with good results. The initials impact on the families of having at least one bread earner in the family was clearly discernible. Having done this, I never looked back again towards the green pastures of the West. Not forgetting for once the purpose of coming back to India, I rigorously pursued my cherished goal as a Member of the State Legislature and as a Minister as well. In fact, I wish I would have even more avenues for such services to the hapless people to live with human decency and dignity.

Activities and Objectives:

• Organizations of institutions in Government and Non-government sectors for rural development.

• Developing strategies and policy frame work active involvement of rural communities in development and socio-political activities.

• Launching new initiatives of participatory rural bodies for specific area of income generation and human rights awareness, this is essentially the bottom-up approach for social emancipation in the rural context.

• Developing novel at integrated instruments with social character aimed at integrated rural life into rapidly changing socio-economic scenario in Indian and Global Countries.

Minister, Major Irrigation, Govt of Andhra Pradesh and Member of A.I.C.C

Please email me your comments and suggestions at

lponnala@yahoo.com

Ponnala Lakshmiah

Mr. Ponnala flays Deshmukh's statements ......

Ponnala flays Deshmukh's statements

Staff Reporter

WARANGAL: The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, took strong exception to the statements of the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, that they were using the Godavari waters as per the agreement signed in 1975.

Speaking to newsmen here today, Mr. Lakshmaiah said the decision to construct the Babli project was unilateral and the Maharashtra Government had never informed the Central Government, Central Water Commission or at least the Andhra Pradesh Government and violated the agreement entered into by both the States in 1975.

The Minister said the then Chief Ministers - J Vengala Rao of Andhra Pradesh and S B Chavan of Maharashtra - agreed to share the Godavari waters, according to which the full reservoir level of SRSP should be maintained at 1,091 feet at all costs. Water up to the Jaikwadi project could be utilised by Maharashtra and below by Andhra Pradesh. "The Babli project is falling within the SRSP water spread area and once completed will reduce the water level in SRSP by 1 tmcft, which is a gross violation by the Maharashtra Government,'' Mr. Lakshmaiah explained. The Minister found fault with Maharashtra for going ahead with the projects unauthorisedly and for not exchanging the information on utilisation of Godavari waters. "We are not bothered which party is ruling in that State. In the interest of the people of Andhra Pradesh, we will fight it out,'' Mr. Lakshmaiah maintained.

He appealed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister to stop the construction of the Babli project until the high-level officials of both the States sit and work out modalities of utilising the Godavari waters. Referring to the MGM Hospitals, Mr. Lakshmaiah accused the TDP leaders of instigating the patients. "The former Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, promised to make it a 1,000-bed hospital, but he failed to do so.

Source : The Hindu.

Mr. Ponnala says Congress will retain power........

Ponnala says Congress will retain power

Staff Reporter

WARANGAL: Major Irrigation Minister in the outgoing Cabinet Ponnala Lakshmaiah is confident that the Congress will come to back to power in the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Lakshmaiah said a of sullenness was prevailing in the State.

The opposition parties were ‘morally bankrupt’ and had no issues to go to people. Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu was unable to approach people and was restricting himself to press conferences.

The grand alliance remained a non-starter and would ultimately collapse as they were focused more on sharing seats than talking about issues concerning the common man.

Needs met

“We are hearing from different sections of the society that the Congress will retain power. No section is against the government as they have witnessed its performance. We knew the needs of the people and we launched schemes and programmes accordingly.

They want this government to stay further,” Mr. Ponnala Lakshmaiah claimed.

The Congress’ senior leader pointed out that the opposition parties were indulging in undue criticism and were trying to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

But Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy braved the scorching sun and undertook padayatra covering thousands of kilometres to know the problems of poor.

Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Major Irrigation Minister, in Vijayawada on July 1, 2005.

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah (second from left), inspecting Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on August 20, 2005..............

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah (second from left), inspecting Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on August 20, 2005. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkata Ramaiah (Nani) (extreme left) is also seen.

The PCC president, K. Keshav Rao and Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, at a meeting of the Telangana Regional Congress Co-ordination ....

The PCC president, K. Keshav Rao and Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, at a meeting of the Telangana Regional Congress Co-ordination Committee meeting, convened in Hyderabad, on October 10, 2005, to discuss about the party's stand on Pothireddypadu head regulator controversy.

Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah (third from right) at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on July 01, 2005 and several other ministers.......

The Higher Education Minister, Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao (second from left), discussing the release of water for Krishna delta with Muncipal Administration Minister, Koneru Ranga Rao and Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah (third from right) at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on July 01, 2005. MLAs, Mandali Buuda Prasad (extreme right) , Buragadda Veda Vyas (second from right) are also seen.

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah inspecting Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on August 20, 2005. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkata Ramaiah...

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah inspecting Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada on August 20, 2005. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Venkata Ramaiah (Nani) is also seen.

Dr.Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, speaking to Parvathipuram MP V. Kishore Chandra Deo at a public meeting after inaugurating the rubber dam and Mr. Ponnala..

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, speaking to Parvathipuram MP V. Kishore Chandra Deo at a public meeting after inaugurating the rubber dam on the Janjhavathi river in Vizianagaram district on January 01, 2006. Minister for major irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah looks on. The dam is the first of its kind in India. It brings 9000 acres under assured irrigation.

An old woman looks at the dream project of the Government, even as the Minister for Major Irrigation, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and............

An old woman looks at the dream project of the Government, even as the Minister for Major Irrigation, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and the Minister for Geology and Mines, Sabita Indra Reddy launch the Rajiv Gruha Kalpa Scheme at Mailardevra Palli in Rajendranagar Municipality near Hyderabad on May 18, 2005.

Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah talks to S.Ramakrishna on why the state is for the Polavaram project.

Interview : Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah

Andhra Pradesh Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah talks toS.Ramakrishna on why the state is for the Polavaram project.

“We have spent over Rs 1,500 crore on the project”

Polavaram project: We are well aware of our responsibilities. We are following a very humanitarian approach on the project. No displaced person or family would be subjected to injustice. We have come up with the best resettlement and rehabilitation package in the country and are prepared to further improve it after consulting with affected people and their representatives. Besides, we have spent Rs 1,500 crore on various works.

Moving the High Court: The National Environment Appellate Authority has no power or jurisdiction over an irrigation project which has already been cleared by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Section 11 and Section 11 (1) of Environmental Appellate Authority Act mandate it.

Neighbouring states: The Andhra Pradesh government is ready to build a protection wall along the 11 villages in Orissa and Chhattisgarh to prevent further submergence. The wall is technically feasible and within Andhra, we have built similar walls along Godavari flood hit areas in 1958.

7 Aug 2005 ... RARING TO GO: Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah whistles at the ... This is the funny side of Ponnala Lakshmaiah, ................

The other side of Ponnala

S. Ramu

RARING TO GO: Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah whistles at the visitors before lifting the radial crest gates of the Nagarjunasagar dam on Friday.

NAGARJUNASAGAR (NALGONDA DT): He cheered up visitors by whistling with fingers and tried to steal the show with his infectious smile and ready wit. This is the funny side of Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Major Irrigation Minister.

The Minister was on cloud nine when water stored in the Nagarjunasagar dam was let out into the Krishna through 16 out of 26 radial crest gates on Friday.

The moment he reached the platform erected on the crest gates, he started talking to people who assembled on the dam. "Do you know my name? My name is Ponnala Lakshmaiah,'' he announced.

Skips puja

The Minister surprised officials by skipping the puja supposed to be performed before going on to the platform. A couple of cameramen missed the all-important event because they were waiting for the Minister to come to Nehru Children's Park where officials planned to perform the puja. After a brief interaction with the visitors, he went for a boat ride on the Tourism Development Corporation's Shanti Sri.

Later, addressing a press conference at the River View guesthouse at South Vijayapuri, he introduced himself to the reporters: "I am Ponnala Lakshmaiah. In foreign countries, I am called Lakshmaiah Ponnala, L.P., which means Long Play.''

"Generally, I don't remember that I am a Minister. When my personnel give me a handkerchief to wipe out my sweat, then I realise the fact that I am a Minister.''

The Minister asserted that he was not that happy when he operated the button to lift the gates. "I feel very happy when I see at the reservoir, which is filled with water. I lifted the gates with a heavy heart because I know that it would join the Bay of Bengal,'' he said.

TDP to blame

Blaming it on the Telugu Desam, he said: "Since they lacked foresight, we have to let the water into the sea. Had they taken up irrigation projects during their regime, the situation would have been different.'' He revealed that more than 800 tmcft water had gone waste in the last 20 days.

Source : The Hindu.