The Hindu : NJR flays Naidu for river link talk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 10, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

NJR flays Naidu for river link talk

By Our Staff Reporter

NARASARAOPET OCT. 9. Finding fault with the timing chosen by the State and the Central Governments for talking about the linkage of the Ganga and the Cauvery, the former Chief Minister, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy, has ridiculed the suggestion in the wake of severe drought conditions. "Is it relevant to talk about it now? Of course, we have not come here to politicise the drought,'' he has said.

Talking to presspersons at Mulakaluru village of Narasaraopet Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Reddy said that the Government should act swiftly to explore the possibilities to protect the standing crops. "There is no point in talking about the linking of the Ganga and the Cauvery, the Krishna and the Godavari in this crisis hour. Is it the subject to be discussed now. We must all together think how should we tide over the present crisis. The Government cannot shirk its responsibility. It is incorrect, if it fails, as the situation is very alarming,'' he observed.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, was all praise for the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for launching a debate on the linkage of the Ganga and the Cauvery. But, words should translate into actions. People could not be taken for a ride by their "glib talk.'' Neither the Centre nor the State Government could shun their responsibility by making "sweet talk.'' The linkage of the two rivers was not a topic to be discussed at this juncture, he reiterated.

The former Chief Minister suggested that the Government should set aside all rules and regulations and gear itself up to help the people. It should think of filling the tanks to meet the drinking water needs of the people on a top priority. It should not hesitate to pump the water by using oil engines, if it was required.

Mr. Reddy wanted the Government to grant sustenance allowance at the rate of Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 to farmers to protect the cattle in the current drought situation. He said he granted such an allowance when he was the Chief Minister. He mooted this idea with the Union Minister for Agriculture, Ajit Singh, also.

Referring to the Velugonda project that would cater to the agricultural needs of Prakasam, Guntur, Cuddapah and Nellore districts, the former Chief Minister said that he ordered for conducting a techno-economic survey on the project. The survey could be completed when the late Vijayabhaskara Reddy was the Chief Minister. Mr. Naidu laid a foundation stone for the project on the eve of Lok Sabha elections and forgot it later. "Now they are saying that it is not feasible,'' he observed.

He derided the Chief Minister for throwing the blame on the God. The State Government lacked foresight while taking a decision to release water for irrigation from Nagarjunasagar reservoir. "Now the Chief Minister is saying that even `panchangam' predicted that there would be sufficient rainfall within 15 days from September 1. Is the Government running the administration based on `panchangam?'' he remarked.

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