Bush mistook Hussainsagar for drinking water source: YSR

Hyderabad, Mar 3 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said US President George W Bush mistook the polluted Hussainsagar lake to be the main source of drinking water to Hyderabad.

Describing his interaction with Mr Bush onboard the chopper to the media, Dr Reddy said he had the privilege of explaining to the US President about the 400-year-old history of the city.

While flying over Hyderabad, Mr Bush assumed the Hussainsagar, a polluted water body was a drinking water source for the city.

Dr Reddy said he explained it was a polluted lake and the government had decided to execute a Rs 300 crore project to clean it.

''I also explained about the huge Buddha statue in the middle of Hussainsagar,'' he added.

Dr Reddy said when they were passing over Golconda Fort and Osman Sagar he explained to Mr Bush about the history of the Fort and Osman Sagar, the drinking water source constructed by Nizams.

He also briefed him about the upcoming greenfield airport at Shamshabad. ''I also explained about the mixed culture of Hyderabad.

Persian and European cultures that existed in the past,'' he added.

UNI ASJ GM LR BS1947