AP adopts resolution on Babli issue

Hyderabad, Apr 11 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh government today adopted a unanimous resolution to protest the ''illegal'' construction of the Babli project across river Godavari by the Maharashtra government.

Briefing mediapersons after a cabinet meeting here, state Information and Public Relations Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir said the cabinet had adopted the resolution against the Maharashtra government as it had denied state Irrigation Minister P Lakshmaiah permission to visit the project site.

He said the resolution also criticised the police lathicharge on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists at the project site yesterday.

Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Deputy Leader Nagam Janardhana Reddy demanded the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Centre on the illegal construction of the Babli project and criticised the state government for its failure to project its side before the Supreme Court.

He said relay hunger strikes would be held in the area where lathicharge took place till the Maharashtra Government stopped construction.

A group of ministers would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz to draw their attention to the controversial project.

Stating that the government had constituted a Committee with the Ministers and officials as its members to review the Public Deposit (PD) accounts in all departments, he said the government would take action against the officials who misused the funds in the PD accounts.

The cabinet had approved the merger of the Bharat Heavy Plate and Vessels (BHPV) with BHEL and transfer of the BHPV's 393 acre of land to BHEL, waiving registration and stamp duties.

UNI