Oppn forces adjournment of AP Assy over riparian issue

Hyderabad, Mar 22: The Andhra Pradesh Assembly was adjourned for some time as the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) stalled the proceedings demanding halting of Babli and eleven other 'illegal' projects across river Godavari taken up by the Maharashtra Government.

The trouble started soon after Speaker K R Suresh Reddy disallowed the adjournment motion given notice of by the TDP on the issue.

The TDP members were on their feet demanding setting aside of the listed Business and taking up of an immediate discussion on the riparian issue.

Maintaining that the lower riparian states would be deprived of Godavari water by Maharashtra as and when the projects were completed, the TDP members raised slogans demanding an immediate halting of the projects which were taken up allegedly in violation of directions of the Supreme Court and the Central Water Commission (CWC), even as the Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah offered to make a statement on the issue.

TDP members rushed towards the Speakers podium and staged a sit-in protest.

As repeated appeals by the Speaker to the agitating members to resume their seats fell on deaf ears, the Speaker announced adjournment of the House for 15 minutes.

The Speaker also disallowed the adjournment motions given notice of by the BJP demanding action against Ministers and ruling Congress MLAs for not maintaining secrecy while casting their votes during the Legislative Council elections from the Local Authority Constituencies on March 17.

The adjournment motions given notices of by the CPI on putting pressure on the Centre for providing pension to all the freedom fighters, the CPI(M) on the problems of Gramsevaks and lone Janata Party member K Ramulu on streamlining of the passport office were also disallowed.

UNI