YSR strongly defends Indo-US Nuclear Deal

Hyderabad, Aug 15: Strongly defending the Indo-US Nuclear Deal to meet the increasing demand for power, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday, Aug 15 asserted that his government would ensure the State was not affected by the acute global food shortage projected in the next two to three decades, by completing the 'gigantic irrigation initiative'.

Speaking after unfurling the national flag and inspecting the ceremonial parade at the Parade Grounds here on the occasion of the 62 Independence Day, he said his government supported the Centre's deal with the US as tapping nuclear energy was the only way out to meet the increasing demand for electricity.

Observing India alone would account for 50 crore of the world population growth of 130 crore in the next 20 years, he said already African and East Asian countries were witnessing food scarcity and food riots.

With no scope for importing food, as in the past, from the US and Europe where land was being diverted to biofuels, his government had taken up with ''foresight'' the ambitious ''Jalayagnam'' project in the State to bring under irrigation one crore acre overcoming legal hurdles created by the Opposition parties and make it once again the ''rice bowl'' of the country and also eradicate poverty in the State.

''When the envisaged irrigation projects are completed, food shortage will not come... will never come in the future,'' he asserted.

UNI