Congress, TRS trade charges over Telangana projects

Hyderabad, Mar 7 (UNI) Even as Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Legislator E Rajender alleged that irrigation projects in Telangana were ''neglected'' by the Rajasekhara Reddy Government, ruling Congress Legislators T Jeevan Reddy and Galla Aruna put up a spirited defence of the Congress Government in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.

Participating in the debate on the demand for grants for the Irrigation Department, the TRS legislator contended that despite the Government's claim that a lion's share had been provided to the Telangana Irrigation projects, diversion of funds to projects in Coastal and Rayalaseema had taken place.

Mr Rajender alleged that major irrigation projects to utilise 1000 tmc Godavari waters in the Telangana region had not been initiated.

He also alleged that the Government was preoccupied with stablising the Krishna Delta ayacut under the assumption that Telangana people were accustomed to droughts.

Asking the Government when the long pending Dummagudem project would be taken up, the TRS legislator said at the present rate of allocation, irrigation projects relating to the backward Telangana region could not be completed even after 20 years.

Quoting Jayati Ghosh Commission findings, he said ryots in Telangana region were forced to commit suicide due to drying up of borewells.

He demanded that the Government ensured nine hours of power supply to save withering Rabi crops.

Putting the blame on the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Government for not even adding irrigation capacity to augment even one cusec of water, Mr Reddy denied the charge of the TRS, an estranged ally of the Congress and said Telangana was provided 45 per cent of the allocation for major irrigation projects in the Budget and 65 per cent allocation in the case of Medium irrigation projects.

Out of Rs 550 crore earmarked for minor irrigation projects, Rs 400 crore was set apart for Telangana, he added.

Stating that Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was following the footsteps of ''Bhagiradha'', who brought Ganga from heaven overcoming all odds, another Congress Legislator Galla Aruna alleged that the Opposition was putting obstacles to the Jalayaganam (irrigation initiative), as it would have no future, if the projects were completed.

''I pray to Goddess Gangamma so that good sense prevails in Opposition party members'', Ms Aruna said, adding that The TDP, which was responsible for consecutive years of drought during its rule, was again commiting mistake by creating hurdles to irrigation projects.

UNI SM KVV PG KN1625