IN PROTEST MODE: TRS legislators walking out of the House in protest against the Polavaram project in Hyderabad on Thursday. - Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: The State Assembly was adjourned without taking up its regular agenda on Thursday after members of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) stalled proceedings to protest against implementation of the Polavaram project.

Barring a brief discussion during question hour on the functioning of Primary Health Centres, the House did not transact any other business following a spirited attack against the treasury benches by the TRS.

Placard-wielding TRS members forced Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy to adjourn the House twice by rushing to the podium. After the second adjournment, the Speaker held a meeting with floor leaders in a bid to break the impasse.

As the TRS members refused to yield after resumption, Mr. Suresh Reddy adjourned the House for the day but not before the former obstructed G. Chinna Reddy (Congress) from initiating the debate on the Governor's address.

In just the second question listed for the day, the TRS set the tone for the confrontation. Its members wanted to know as to why the Government was going ahead with creating an ayacut of 22 lakh acres under Polavaram when the Central Water Commission (CWC) had cleared a command area of only 7.2 lakh acres.

TRS floor leader G. Vijayarama Rao contended that the Government was implementing the project at the expense of meeting the irrigation needs of Telangana. It did not feel the necessity to give priority to Itchampally and Pranahita - Chevella link over Polavaram project.

Misleading picture?

He accused the Government of painting a misleading picture about the drought situation in the district which would benefit from Polavaram. The truth was that 79 to 84 per cent of area in Krishna and East and West Godavari districts was irrigated against 22 to 28 per cent in Adilabad, Medak and Mahbubnagar.

T. Harish Rao (TRS) said the Government had overlooked national and international irrigation practices which advocated inter-basin transfer of water only after meeting the local requirements. CPI (M) floor leader N. Narasimhaiah also sought to know whether the Government had stuck to the CWC's proposals.

Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah denied that the ayacut was increased after permission was received. There was no deviation from the proposals, he added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail