In a first major mobilisation of support in the city in the movement for keeping the Sate integrated, GVMC JAC on Friday organised “Samaikya Sankharavam” public meeting on the Old Jail Road. Listing the injustice the Seemandhra region would suffer, leaders reiterated their resolve to continue the stir, criticised political leaders for “being in deep slumber” and demanded that they quit their posts and lead from the front.
Additional Commissioner (General) K. Ramesh said the movement was being led by students and employees. The separation move would not hit the well-off sections but the poor and middle class would suffer, he said.
Superintendent Engineer Marianna said farmers would be the worst hit with the neighbouring states not keeping their commitment to release water as mandated depriving Krishna, Godavari and Penna ayacut areas of water.
Though the total water available from the Krishna river was 800 tmc feet, 460 tmc feet had to come from Karnataka.
With Karnataka raising the height of projects like Almatti and Jurala and Srisailam located in the proposed divided part, farmers under the other projects would be left with no water. Similarly, in the Godavari delta 1,480 tmc feet of water was available, Andhra Pradesh was utilising 576 tmc feet. Polavaram project itself would need 600 tmc feet. With Telangana utilising 300 tmc feet for its lift schemes, Polavaram project would hardly have water.
Mr. Marianna said with Hyderabad alone projected to generate 5 to 10 lakh jobs, students in Seemandhra region would be left with no jobs. He wanted to know the rationale for dividing the State formed on linguistic basis.
APNGOs Association district president K. Eswara Rao said the movement for united State was spontaneous and unparalleled. Saluting the spirit of RTC staff, he said NGOs also would continue the strike until the issue was resolved for the benefit of posterity.
Visakhapatnam Bar Association president N.V. Badarinath said advocates would fight the bifurcation move once the constitutional process was set into motion. It was for the elected political leaders to fight the decision taken with political motives, he said.
President of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Employees Union M. Ananda Rao, State Town Planning Association secretary K. Venkateswara Rao, trade union leader Vamana Rao, S V Ramana (Teachers JAC) and an SHG group leader Bharati and Dileep (Engineering)spoke. Several songs and dances in support of Samaikyandhra were performed.
