Alleging that the Telangana State meted out gross injustice in river water allocation, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has said he would personally argue at the Tribunal if the need arises.
Participating in the discussion held on irrigation projects and water in the Assembly here on Wednesday, KCR alleged that earlier rulers in the United Andhra Pradesh deliberately prevented completion of Telangana projects. Stating that his Government was sincere to complete irrigation projects, the Chief Minister pointed out that Telangana Movement’s main slogan was ‘water, revenue and jobs’. He said earlier regimes had not completed Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) tunnel project and gross injustice was meted out to the Telangana in water allocation. Therefore, the Telangana State Government approached the Supreme Court for redressal of their grievances.
Stating that there were many problems in the process of completion of SLBC project, KCR said he held discussions with the engineers concerned for two-and-a-half hours. “The problems will be reduced only when the Dindi and Pendlipaka projects were completed”, he said. Asking the Opposition parties to explain how the long pending SLBC project could be completed, KCR said he would convene an all-party meeting in this regard. He said the dreams of the Telangana people, who fought for water, jobs and revenue, would be fulfilled hundred percent. He also made it clear that the Inchampally project would be constructed at any cost and justice has to be done to the Telangana State in the allocation of Krishna river water.
The Chief Minister told the House that the Telangana State would definitely achieve its share in Krishna and Godavari waters. Otherwise, future generations will suffer indefinitely, he bemoaned. Stating that the Telangana political parties have to wage united fight to achieve irrigation projects, KCR praised Congress Legislature Party leader K Jana Reddy for suggesting to the members in the House not to criticize each other in solving such problems. Alleging that earlier governments had miserably failed to complete the SLBC tunnel, the Chief Minister said the work would take at least two years if it started now. “Still 25km long tunnel work is pending”, he said, adding that earth moving machine was digging only 0.6 kilometer per month. KCR also thanked the Nalgonda district MLAs for assuring cooperation in completing the SLBC tunnel. He urged all political parties to set aside their political affiliations and help complete the projects. He made it clear that his Government was ready to extend working days of the House for another 20 days to discuss the problems of the people.
Earlier, Congress MLA from Nalgonda Komatireddy Venkat Reddy urged the Government to solve the perennial fluoride problem in the district on permanent basis. He said people in the district were facing acute shortage of drinking and irrigation water due to the non-completion of the SLBC project. He urged the Government to complete the irrigation projects on war-footing.
Responding to Venkat Reddy’s appeal, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao said undoubtedly Nalgonda district is fluoride affected one and the government was ready to solve the problem permanently. Reminding Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s statement during the Movement that there was a need to supply irrigation water to the district and then only the fluoride problem will be solved permanently, Harish said the problem could be solved only when the water is made available to every acre of agricultural land.
Stating there were many reasons for the stoppage of SLBC tunnel works due to earlier governments’ negligent attitudes, Harish Rao said the project cost has escalated due to soaring prices of cement, steel and oil. He also disclosed that spare parts of the imported earth moving machine were not available and the contractors were demanding Rs 150 crores as advance for machinery spare parts. He reminded that the SLBC works were started in 1981. He revealed that only 50 percent of SLBC works were completed till now. Ridiculing Congress leaders for shedding crocodile tears on the delay in project works, Harish said the latter should have questioned the then Chief Ministers for inordinate delay instead of grilling the present government on the issue. “It is shame that the project was started 33 years ago and discussion was going on now. (NSS)
