TRS stages walkout in AP House against Telangana 'neglect'

Hyderabad, Mar 28 (UNI) The Opposition Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) today staged a walkout in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in protest against alleged neglect of Telangana in the implementation of major irrigation projects by the Congress government.

Even as Major Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah maintained during question hour that Telangana got a lion's share of Rs 14,485.16 crore since 2004-05 under the irrigation initiative and irrigation potential had been created for 11.51 lakh acre, TRS Floor Leader G Vijayarama Rao alleged that government was 'cheating' the Telangana people by diverting Godavari water to the Krishna Delta and Krishna water to Rayalaseema, before leading his members out of the House.

Mr Rao claimed that without taking up the Pranahita-Chevala project, not much irrigation water could be ensured for the region.

To this, the Minister said detailed project report would be ready by the month-end and the project would be taken up soon.

Earlier, the Minister, replying to Mr Rao and other TRS members, denied any disparity in bill payment and proposed irrigated area development under major and medium irrigation projects. He gave details of the various projects taken up by the Congress.

Raising supplementries, TDP Legislature Party Deputy Leader T Devender Goud claimed that many irrigation projects completed were those started by his party and alleged largescale corruption in the irrigation initiative.

Denying the charge, the Minister said water had been provided to about 12 lakh acre by the Congress Government in the last two years as against only 11 lakh acre during the nine years of TDP regime.

UNI