Hyderabad, July 03: In a decision that is likely to kick up a major controversy, Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has given the goahead for the creation of AP Water Resources Regulatory Commission.
At a review meeting on the status of irrigation projects, the Chief Minister approved the proposal to bring in a legislation in the budget session of the Assembly to clear the decks for the constitution of the panel.
The proposal had been hanging fire ever since the days of erstwhile chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu who toyed with the idea but could not get round to grounding it for fear of a political backlash. The Communist parties had then come down hard on him alleging it was part of the World Bank strategy to commercialise water distribution.
Even now, there are apprehensions that private agents would be appointed to collect user charges.
Talking to mediapersons, Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah sought to dispel the notion that the commission would make irrigation water very expensive for the farmer. ‘‘The proposed legislation is intended to do justice to all farmers falling under the purview of irrigation projects, ensuring irrigation facility to the targeted ayacut and minimum wastage of water,’’ he said, adding that the Chief Minister had made it clear that there would be no increase in water cess for the next five years.
–Agencies–