Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday said that the decision on the Supreme Court verdict on Babhali Project will be taken in the best interests of the State, after taking legal opinion from the top legal experts from the Supreme Court.
Before the next move, whether it is a review petition or clarification petition, the Chief Minister said another All Party meeting will be convened here and all opinions/suggestions of the parties will be taken into consideration.
The Chief Minister on Thursday held an All Party Meeting at the Secretariat on the Supreme Court judgement on Babhali Project. He heard the opinions, suggestions and stand of leaders from all political parties in detail. In the introductory remarks, the Chief Minister said that Government and all political parties are one on this issue and the interests of the people of the State will be protected under any circumstances.
The Chief Minister reminded the parties that he made his stand clear on the issue during the discussion in both the Houses and reiterated that all legal and political steps will be taken to protect the interest of the State on the Babhali issue. He said all the opinions and suggestions given in detail by the political parties will be given utmost consideration. Leaders from all political parties explained about the need to go in for review petition. They also opined that Maharashtra is using more than 60 TMC of water what is due to them.
The leaders are of the opinion that the monitoring committee should be strengthened to have more power to ensure justified use of water. The Chief Minister said that the Supreme Court should be approached to ensure only 60 tmc water usage by Maharashtra and wanted steps to quantify, ensure and regulate only 60 tmc of water usage by Maharashtra in Babhali and other projects above it. He said that State will take all possible steps in this regard in consultation with the Political Parties. He also asked the leaders of all Political Parties to suggest the best advocates to argue the case for the State. He said he will also take up the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister and other higher authorities concerned.
Major Irrigation Minister P Sudarshan Reddy, Civil Supplies Minister D Sreedhar Babu, IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, TDP Leaders E Dayakar Rao, M Venkateswara Rao, Kadiam Sreehari, Ch.Vijayaramana Rao and G.Prasada Babu, CPI leaders K Sambasiva Rao, G. Mallesh, CPI-M leaders Julakanti Ranga Reddy and S.Malla Reddy, TRS leaders R Vidyasagar Rao, B Vinod Kumar and Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, BJP leaders G Kishen Reddy, Prof S V Seshagiri Rao and E. Lakshminarayana, MIM leader Syed Amin Jaffri, Lok Satta Party V. Lakshman Balaji and P Bhasker Rao and YSRCP leaders K K Mahender Reddy, S Venkateswara Rao and B Goverdhan and Telangana Nagara leader Dr S Vengugopalachari, Principal Secretary, Irrigation S K Joshi, Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation, Muralidhar, Special Secretary to CM, S S Rawat and other leaders attended the meeting.
–Agencies