APCC accuses Oppn of politicising Polavaram issue

Hyderabad, Dec 26 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today alleged that the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was politicising the prestigious Polavaram project.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters 'Gandhi Bhavan' here, acting party President G S Rao said the state Government had taken up the project to benefit East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Krishna and Telangana districts.

Construction of the left and right canals of the project had been completed and the spillway was only left out.

He alleged that the TDP was trying to obstruct the project as it could not digest the good image of the Congress and was fearing the TDP's existence once the project was completed. Though the displaced people had no objection to the project, the TDP was politicising the issue, he claimed.

He said two-thirds work of 27 irrigation projects had been completed and the projects taken up under Jalayagnam scheme was 100 per cent successful in the state.

Mr Rao alleged that some backward classes leaders were objecting the inclusion of 17 other castes in the BC category. There would be no harm to the interests of BCs by including these castes, in which 70 per cent of the people were poor.

He urged the government to provide special assistance to these people till such time as it took a decision on their inclusion in the BC list.

UNI