The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : YSR compromised Andhra Pradesh’s interests in Babli issue, says Chandrababu Naidu

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Thursday, Dec 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR compromised Andhra Pradesh’s interests in Babli issue, says Chandrababu Naidu

Special Correspondent

Says the former played down the issue as desired by the Congress high command

Says YSR is not concerned if Telangana turns into a desert
‘It was the Congress that politicised water issues in the past’

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with bartering away interests of Andhra Pradesh on construction of Babli and 11 other barrages by Maharashtra “just to protect his post”.

Addressing a press conference before leaving for Delhi to participate in the Opposition-sponsored ‘dharna’ against the barrages, Mr. Naidu said Dr. Reddy compromised State interests by playing down the issue, “as desired by the Congress high command to benefit Maharashtra.”

“He is more concerned about his post and hence does not want to antagonise the party. He is not concerned if backward Telangana region turns into a desert as these barrages effectively stop inflows into Sriramsagar project having 16 lakh acre ayacut in six districts of Telangana. He will pay a heavy price in the coming elections,” he added.

Flays comments

Taking exception to Dr. Reddy’s comments on TDP’s struggle, he wondered fighting for the rights of the State that led to arrests and taking lathi-blows from Maharashtra police was a “political drama.”

There would not have been a need for such a “drama” if Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and the Centre, all led by the Congress hammered out a solution. He reminded that it was the TDP team that brought the issue to light in 2005 when Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah charged the main Opposition with making a big issue “of what was essentially construction of small check dams for supply of drinking water.” These check dams have now become barrages to store over 60 tmcft of water.

Charge

He alleged that it was the Congress that politicised water issues in the past, recalling how the party led by Dr. Reddy brought about division among regions, by demanding assured water when the NTR government utilised surplus water in Krishna for Telugu Ganga project. Similarly, it had not done anything to solve the problems being created by Tamil Nadu over construction of Palar dam and objections raised by Orissa over projects in North Coastal Andhra.

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