Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has informed that a delegation of Congress leaders would meet Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking release of 3TMC water for Mahabubnagar district and the modernisation of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme.
Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday, Shabbir Ali said that the issues pertaining to RDS and release of water to Mahabubnagar were discussed during a meeting of Telangana Congress leaders with AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh during their recent visit to New Delhi. Subsequently, Digvijay Singh spoke to the Karnataka Chief Minister and fixed a meeting with him on May 10 in Bengaluru.
Besides Shabbir Ali, Leader of Opposition in Assembly K. Jana Reddy, TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, MLAs D. K. Aruna, G. Chinna Reddy, A. Sampath Kumar and C. Vamshichand Reddy, MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, Mahabubnagar DCC President Obedullah Kotwal and 10 farmers from Mahabubnagar district will meet the Karnataka Chief Minister at his camp office in Bengaluru on May 10 at 6 PM.
Shabbir Ali said that the Karnataka CM would be urged to take up the issue of modernisation of canal works on Package Numbers 1&2 of RDS and raising the anicut height by 6 inches. He said about 83,987 acres of ayacut in drought prone Alampur constituency of Mahabubnagar district would benefit if packages 1&2 works are taken up. About 15.9 TMC of water is to be given through RDS.
Similarly, Shabbir Ali said that the Karnataka Chief Minister would be requested to release 3TMC of water from Narayanpur to Jurala for drinking water purpose. He also informed that Alampur MLA Sampath Kumar would be staging a massive dharna in his constituency on May 9 on these issues.
Reacting to the allegations of ruling TRS of Congress party not extending its support on the ongoing controversy over irrigation projects, Shabbir Ali said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao never convened an all-party meeting on any issue, but he expects the main opposition to support his government. He said KCR was not serious on resolving inter-State water disputes and his focus was still confined to winning elections and encouraging defections. “It was due to KCR’s non-serious approach that the Telangana Congress itself took the initiative of resolving the issue of Rajoulibanda Diversion Scheme,” he said.
Shabbir Ali also accused KCR and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of trying to incite sentiments on the issue of irrigation projects. “At one side, they share Biryani, fish and prawns. But on the other, they try to act as if they are bitter rivals. People have seen enough pictures of KCR and Naidu exchanging warm greetings and costly gifts. KCR had once claimed of having Guru-Shishya relationship with Naidu. But when anything goes wrong, they straightaway blame the main opposition Congress party. They must stop enacting these political dramas,” he said.
The Congress leader said that almost all the irrigations projects in Telangana were initiated during the previous Congress Rule. They include major projects like Pranahita, Jurala, RDS, Kalwakurthy and Nettampadu. “We had taken the initiative to irrigate about 95 lakh acres of land in Telangana. KCR is just trying to create hype around projects which would irrigate about 5 lakh acres. The Congress party will intervene on all issues and use all its resources to resolve inter-State disputes, if they arise,” he said.
Shabbir Ali also slammed Industries Minister K. Tarakama Rao for his remarks against Congress party. “Congress is a 132 year old party and spread across the country. It is like Ganga River which would keep flowing despite several hurdles and obstacles. TRS would become extinct after a few years. But Congress will remain the biggest political party in India. KCR and KTR should stop exhibiting their arrogance. KTR must realise that his father KCR began his political career from Congress party and today his family is enjoying power due to the Congress party which granted statehood for Telangana State,” he said. (NSS)