Cong MLAs want govt to stop work on Pothireddipadu

Hyderabad, Dec 27 (UNI) Congress MLAs M Sasidhara Reddy and P Janardhana Reddy today demanded the Andhra Pradesh Government to stop work on Pothireddipadu Head Regulator as it would lead to regional disparities.

Addressing a press conference here, the MLAs wanted the government constitute an expert committee to ascertain the views of experts and political party leaders who expressed apprehensions on the project.

The government had taken up the project to increase the discharge capacity of the head regulator for diverting the Krishna water to Rayalaseema.

They had already discussed the issue with the AICC General Secretary and State-in-charge Digvijay Singh who reportedly advised the government to clear the apprehensions of the party leaders on all the irrigation projects taken up by the government.

The MLAs would again discuss the matter with Mr Singh on December 30 here.

The project was bound to harm the interests of Telangana and Andhra Regions, they claimed and accused the government of not taking into confidence party leaders, Opposition and experts.

Referring to Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah's statement the leaders were making statements due to lack of understanding, they vowed to resign if their apprehensions proved wrong.

They demanded the Minister to convene a meeting with the experts to discuss the matter.

The MLAs also found fault with the government for revising the project estimates from Rs 1,252 crore to Rs 2,155 crore though there was no change in project design.

UNI BR VR LS HT2045