Monday, Dec 16, 2002
Monday, Dec 16, 2002 |
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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Staff Reporter
Asked about the specific plans of the Government to overcome the water crisis in the region beyond July 31, 2003, if the monsoon failed again at a press conference here, he only said: "We are doing what is humanly possible.'' When pointed out that by the Government's own estimates drinking water would last for the city only till the end of July from all sources if supplied on alternate days, he refused to give any assurance on the issue by taking a decision in Visakhapatnam today. He criticised the Opposition for politicising the Godavari waters issue by clubbing it with supply of Raiwada waters for farmers and asserted that farmers had already got their due, hence there was no question of releasing more water for agriculture. "The Godavari Waters Pumping Scheme was under consideration with Rs.200 crores for the first phase, which would save 20 per cent of water loss in the Yeleru Canal,'' he added. The second phase of the scheme, which was to be taken up about two to three years from now, would be advanced, he said but did not specify any specific time from when or how the Government proposed to implement it excepting that it would be with public-private participation. The report of the three-man committee was also under study and some deficiencies in that had to be set right for determining the total project cost and mode of implementation of the scheme to bring the Godavari waters to the city. He alleged that the mediapersons were also projecting a one-sided view of the problem and boosted the viewpoint of the Opposition and advised them to be more rational while reporting on such sensitive issues like drinking water. "The crisis is not of our making, but due to adverse monsoon conditions and failure of the cyclones to bring enough water into the reservoirs in November, which the media must understand,'' he observed. When cornered by reporters on the topic of drinking water needs of the villages using Raiwada water, he said an action plan is being prepared to see that their needs were met otherwise. He refused to call an all-party meeting either in Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam to discuss the issue of bringing Godavari waters to the city. When pointed out that Telugu Desam Party leaders, who were chairmen of Water Users' Associations, had supported and actively taken part in the Raiwada agitation, he said that when instigated by the Congress leaders they failed to see the issue from a broader perspective. A time-bound programme would be executed to develop the Beach Road here to attract international tourists and with the development of Special Economic Zone, Pharma Park and the Apparel Park, the skyline of Visakhapatnam would undergo a major change. These would become assets for the most beautiful city in the State, he added. Gas reserves found near Kakinada would be brought to Visakhapatnam so that pollution levels could be reduced by promoting `green industries', he asserted. He wanted the old Central Prison land to be developed into a revenue-generating commercial hub so that tourism would also get a boost, brushing aside all suggestions of leaving it as a lung space for the city.
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