Cong. walk-out over Govt. 'inaction'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 21. Congress members staged a walk-out in the Assembly today during the discussion on Godavari waters utilisation in protest against lack of any action plan in the case of the ongoing and contemplated irrigation projects on the Godavari.

They were not satisfied with the Minister's reply that the relief and rehabilitation package for the SRSP Flood Flow Canal would be ready by next month.

Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the CLP leader, said it sounded absurd that despite being in power for six years continuously the Government sought refuge in words like `contemplating, preparing, underway' while referring to the progress of irrigation plans. All this only added to the region's neglect, he said. It was whiling away its time in laying foundation stones and constituting committees.

Dr. Reddy asked whether there was any financial tie-up for SRSP Stage II or a completed plan for Yellampalli, Devadula, SRSP Flood Flow Canal or Dammugudem project. The foundation stones for works worth about Rs. 32,000-crores had been laid so far but where were the allocations?

The Minister for Major Irrigation, Mr. M. Venkateswara Rao, stoutly denied any delay or apathy on the part of the Government. Delay in utilising the Godavari waters was more due to the neglect of the region by the previous Congress(I) regime. Instead of politicising the issue, the Opposition could do well to cooperate with the Government in early completion of the projects, he said.

Despite the ayacut of SRSP going up from 2.5 lakh acres to six lakh acres due to the efforts of the TDP Government, the Opposition was blaming it of inaction. By 2003, 10 lakh acres would be brought under the ayacut and the Government was spending Rs. 500 crores under AIBP (Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme).

About 150 schemes for arresting the siltage of SRSP were planned and work would begin soon. Delay in securing forest clearance for some of the projects like Mandakini and Saraswathi was creating hurdles. Taking up Devadula was a bold initiative and there was no lacuna in human effort, he said.

Of the estimated 1480 TMC available for the State, it had committed to utilising 644 TMC of water under the existing major, medium and minor irrigation schemes. Important projects identified for further utilisation of 119 TMC of water included the SRSP Stage-II, the Flood Flow Canal and the Chagalnadu LI Scheme. There was still 717 TMC of water available for taking further projects in north Andhra and Telangana region, he assured the House.

The preparation of the detailed project report on Dammugudem Hydro Electric Project was taken up by the AP Genco and the draft would be ready by this month-end.

Earlier, Congress(I) members led by Mr. K. R. Suresh Reddy said the emphasis should be on flow irrigation, not on lift irrigation. The CPI (M) member, Mr. N. Narsimhaiah, said with the leverage it had over the Centre, the State should have got all clearances very fast.

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