The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : TDP flays delay in Godavari water reaching Vizag

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Thursday, Aug 04, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

TDP flays delay in Godavari water reaching Vizag

Special Correspondent

Party for clarity in Government stand

VISAKHAPATNAM: The urban district unit of the Telugu Desam Party has asked the Government and the Municipal Corporation of Visakhapatnam (MCV) to specify when the Godavari waters would be supplied to the city.

The TDP urban district president Majji Sundaram Patrudu told reporters here on Wednesday that the MCV had been saying that "the Godavari water would be supplied shortly'' for quite some time. However, it had recently talked about the delay in construction of the filtration plant. "They talk as though there are no contractors in the country to set up the plant. We demand a clear announcement as to when exactly the Godavari water will be supplied to the city which is reeling under severe water shortage,'' he said.

In this context, he also criticised the local legislators for failing to resolve the problems of the city. Neither the MLAs nor the local MP had done anything to ensure that the Godavari water scheme was completed on schedule, Mr. Patrudu pointed out.

Another problem, which plagued the city, was land grabbing on a large scale, he said. Private lands as well as lands belonging to the Simhachalam Devasthanam and the State Government were being occupied by land-grabbers and the Government and the officials were watching this with amusement, he alleged. On the other hand, land was given away to corporate houses for a song even without the approval of the Cabinet, he alleged.

The urban unit president also demanded transparency in the funds being spent on the ensuing World Youth Volleyball tournament. "They say the estimated expenditure is Rs.6 crores and that the Oil and Natural Gas Commission had given Rs.2 crores. Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, we hear, has promised Rs.50 lakhs. From where do they get the balance amount of Rs.3.5 crores? They have to account for it,'' he said.

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