Raja of Muktyala
Encyclopedia
The Muktyala Raja named Vasireddy Ramagopalakrishna Maheswara Prasad fondly called Projects Prasad belonged to the illustrious Vasireddy Clan
and was noted for his efforts in infrastructure creation in India
.
, the largest masonry dam in the world, in the state of Andhra Pradesh
, India
.
.
, a dream which has not taken shape till today. He came to know that the Government of Madras Presidency
has made plans to divert Krishna
river water to Madras by linking Krishna and Pennar rivers. He embarked upon a tour of nine districts of Andhra Pradesh
and visited each and every village to collect the signatures of people in favour of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
project. He travelled through the thick and inhospitable jungles near Macherla to visit the site of Nandikonda and formed a team of retired engineers at his own expense to make the project plans and designs. The government of Madras tried to scuttle his plans for which the Raja established the 'Krishna Farmers Welfare Society' and exerted pressure on the Government of India in favour of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
. The Government of India instituted the Khosla Committee but the committee refused to visit the site on the excuse that there was no motorable road to Nandikonda. The Raja gathered villagers and volunteers from twenty five villages and made a road by labouring day and night for a week at his own expense. The Khosla committee visited the site and found it to be the most ideal location to build a gigantic dam across the river.
There were attempts to suppress the report of the Khosla committee. The Raja went to New Delhi
and with the support of N. G. Ranga, Moturi Hanumantha Rao and Kotha Raghuramaiah
resurrected the report, distributed it to important people and urged the Planning Commission (Government of India) to take cognizance.
Chandulal Trivedi, the Governor
of the state of Andhra Pradesh
urged the Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru
to accept the report of the Khosla Committee. An announcement was made in 1954 for the construction of the project. The foundation stone was laid on December 10, 1955. Raja spent fifty two lakhs of rupees as a matching grant for the project construction. The waters of Krishna river
were released for the farmers on August 3, 1966.
has gone unrecognized and ignored.
Vasireddy Clan
-History:The first historical record of the Vasireddy clan can be traced from 1413 CE inscription of Pothineedu at Pithapuram in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Pothineedu ruled A small region around Pithapuram subsequent to the downfall of Musunuri Nayaks at Warangal. Pothineedu constructed...
and was noted for his efforts in infrastructure creation in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Introduction
He was instrumental in the construction of the Nagarjuna Sagar DamNagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world's largest masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, India, between 1955 and 1967. The dam contains the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to 11,472 million cubic metres. The dam is . tall and...
, the largest masonry dam in the world, in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Family
One of his daughters, Indira Dutt is married to the son of eminent industrialist and former Indian Civil Service officer, Velagapudi RamakrishnaVelagapudi Ramakrishna
Velagapudi Ramakrishna was an Indian Civil Service officer, industrialist, and philanthropist. He started the KCP group of companies in 1941 with a co-operative sugar factory in Andhra Pradesh...
.
Achievements
The Raja of Muktyala strived hard for the construction of the Pulichintala Project across the river KrishnaKrishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
, a dream which has not taken shape till today. He came to know that the Government of Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
has made plans to divert Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
river water to Madras by linking Krishna and Pennar rivers. He embarked upon a tour of nine districts of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and visited each and every village to collect the signatures of people in favour of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world's largest masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, India, between 1955 and 1967. The dam contains the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to 11,472 million cubic metres. The dam is . tall and...
project. He travelled through the thick and inhospitable jungles near Macherla to visit the site of Nandikonda and formed a team of retired engineers at his own expense to make the project plans and designs. The government of Madras tried to scuttle his plans for which the Raja established the 'Krishna Farmers Welfare Society' and exerted pressure on the Government of India in favour of the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world's largest masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, India, between 1955 and 1967. The dam contains the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to 11,472 million cubic metres. The dam is . tall and...
. The Government of India instituted the Khosla Committee but the committee refused to visit the site on the excuse that there was no motorable road to Nandikonda. The Raja gathered villagers and volunteers from twenty five villages and made a road by labouring day and night for a week at his own expense. The Khosla committee visited the site and found it to be the most ideal location to build a gigantic dam across the river.
There were attempts to suppress the report of the Khosla committee. The Raja went to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and with the support of N. G. Ranga, Moturi Hanumantha Rao and Kotha Raghuramaiah
Kotha Raghuramaiah
Kotha Raghuramaiah M.A., L.L.B. was a famous Indian Politician and Member of Parliament.-Family:...
resurrected the report, distributed it to important people and urged the Planning Commission (Government of India) to take cognizance.
Chandulal Trivedi, the Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
urged the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
to accept the report of the Khosla Committee. An announcement was made in 1954 for the construction of the project. The foundation stone was laid on December 10, 1955. Raja spent fifty two lakhs of rupees as a matching grant for the project construction. The waters of Krishna river
Krishna River
The Krishna River , is one of the longest rivers in central-southern India, about . It is also referred to as Krishnaveni in its original nomenclature...
were released for the farmers on August 3, 1966.
Legacy
The Muktyala Raja was the symbol of determination, willpower and philanthropy. However, his selfless service to the farmers of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
has gone unrecognized and ignored.