Senior YSR Congress party leader and state irrigation minister Ambati Rambabu on Thursday admitted that he was not familiar with the technical aspects of irrigation projects, but that doesn’t affect his performance as an irrigation minister.
“Yes, I don’t know the technicalities of Polavaram irrigation project. So what? There is no necessity that a minister holding a portfolio should be an expert in the subject he is concerned with. Is it essential for a health minister to do surgeries in hospitals?” Ambati asked, reacting to the criticism from the opposition leaders.
He, however, said after becoming the irrigation minister, he has been trying to learn and understand the technical issues of the subject.
“You cannot expect me to know about diaphragm wall of Polavaram right from my birth. I am not a contractor or an engineer to know everything,” he said.
Stating that he had the common sense and sincerity to learn the subject, Ambati said it was unfortunate and atrocious on the part of the opposition leaders to ridicule him stating that he had no knowledge about irrigation.
The minister blamed it on the grave errors committed by the previous Telugu Desam Party government that the Polavaram project could not be completed on time.
“The diaphragm wall was built without completing the coffer dams. As a result, the diaphragm wall was washed away in heavy floods. But now, they are indulging in smear campaign,” he alleged.
Ambati ridiculed TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for visiting flood-affected areas, days after the calamity was over.
“It is like dogs barking six months after the theft was committed. He has gone there only to instigate the people,” he alleged.