Oppn unconstructive in protecting state's interests: CM

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today alleged that the Opposition was resorting to mud-slinging on the issue of the alleged illegal construction of Babli and 11 other projects across river Godavari by Maharashtra at a time when all parties should unite to protect the state's interests.

Intervening during the Question Hour, the Chief Minister said the Opposition parties were not cooperating with the government on the issue. Instead, they were moving courts to stall irrigation projects, he added.

The Chief Minister maintained that his Maharashtra counterpart Vilasrao Deshmukh had failed to abide by his assurance made at a meeting with the mediation of the Centre.

After Dr Reddy had conceded to the Opposition demand for taking an all-party delegation to New Delhi, Opposition leader Chandrababu Naidu was claiming that no purpose would be served by doing so, he added.

The Congress Government was acting against the Maharashtra Government in a democratic manner by moving the Supreme Court and pressing the Centre for its intervention on the issue, he said.

He recalled that Mr Naidu, who had tremendous influence during the Deve Gowda Government at the Centre, ''totally failed'' from preventing Karnataka from increasing height of Almatti to store additionally 137 TMC Krishna water, whereas only about two TMC water was involved in the case of Babli and other projects taken up by Maharashtra.

The Government had engaged best of lawyers to put forth the State's case effectively before the Supreme Court, he explained, asserting that the Government would complete all major irrigation projects to provide water additionally to over 12 lakh acres every year from next year, overcoming all hurdles.

UNI