RS adjourned over Andhra water shortage issue

New Delhi, May 14: The Rajya Sabha was today adjourned for the dayfollowing vociferous demand by opposition led by Telugu Desam Party andthe AIADMK that the Centre give a statement over acute water shortagein Andhra Pradesh due to the construction of a dam at Babli on theGodavari river by the Maharashtra government.

The issue led to adjournment of the House thrice earlier.

As soon as the House reassembled at 1400 hrs, agitated TDP membersC Ramchandraiah, N P Durga and S M Laljand Basha and AIADMK member S GIndira rushed into the well of the House highlighting the plight of theAndhra farmers and sought a discussion on the issue.

Many other members also supported their demand pointing out thatthousands of farmers from the state had travelled 2000 km to lodgetheir protest against the injustice meted out to them and wereagitating at Jantar Mantar.

However, Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan said that an importantdiscussion on agriculture was scheduled and the Babli issue could notbe taken up just because agriculture and water were related issues.

He said that the members should have given a proper notice forstructured debate if they wanted a statement from the government.

It was only after proper notice that the chair could direct the government for a statement on the issue.

However, the TDP, AIADMK and other members persisted with theirdemand for immediate discussion on the Babli issue while Shiv Senamembers rose to oppose them. When the uproar continued, Mr Khanadjourned the House for the day.

Earlier, as soon as the House assembled at 1100 hrs, TDP leader RChandrashekhar Reddy rose up to read his statement and demanded thatQuestion Hour be suspended and the whole time devoted to discussion onthe issue. The TDP members soon found supporters from the BJP, theSamajwadi Party and other Opposition parties, who all demanded that theGovernment make a statement in the House. Ms Sushma Swaraj of the BJPand Mr Shahid Siddiqui of the Samajwadi Party said the matter was veryserious as the shortage of water in Andhra Pradesh was badly affectingcrops. They rushed to the well of the House, demanding suspension ofQuestion Hour.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he was allowing the TDPleader to read his statement on the issue within Question Hour, whichshould satisfy them.

Meanwhile, there were heated exchanges between members of the Treasury Benches and the TDP members.

When the members kept insisting and went on shouting in the well of House, the Chair adjourned the House till 1130 hrs.

However, as the House met again, TDP members again raised the sameissue, forcing Mr Shekhawat to further suspend the proceedings till1200 noon.

When the House reassembled at 1200 hrs, no transaction could takeplace except laying the papers on the table of the House as the TDP,BJP, SP and AIADMK MPs stood in protest. The TDP MPs were inside thewell of the House demanding Centre's assurances.

Deputy Chairman asked them to submit their motion in a proper formto enable the government to come out with a reply. When things did notappear to be heading to a resolution, the Chair adjourned the Housetill 1400 hrs. However, when the situation continued even after 1400hrs, the House was adjourned for the day.

UNI