The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 came in for scathing attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from the Seemandhra region.
The Bill has not taken into account the concerns of the people of the Seemandhra region and is unlikely to pass judicial scrutiny, party national executive member and former MLA K. Haribabu told the media here on Thursday.
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The party leaders had studied the Bill that was presented in the AP Legislative Assembly and found that it is going to adversely affect the lives of 5 crore people of the regions, he said. “We will impress upon our Central leadership to take up these concerns and ensure that the interests of the people of the region are protected when the Bill is introduced in Parliament,” Mr. Haribabu said.
Elaborating on the provisions of the Bill he said that on the subject of Polavaram Project, there was a one line mention that it would be taken up as a national project, but the rest of the provisions in the Bill negate it. The multipurpose project was mentioned in the Bill as an irrigation project, thereby reducing the chances that it would serve the interests of the people of the region. As an irrigation project, the possibility of utilising its waters in the Krishna basin were remote, he pointed out.
If the project has to be grounded then the Bhadrachalam revenue division would have to revert to East Godavari district, he said. The Bill made it clear that the project should be taken up with the support of both the States, which is unlikely, he added.
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Further, Rajya Sabha member from the State and Cabinet Minister Jairam Ramesh has publicly declared that the ministry had given environmental clearances for the project under pressure.
He also wanted a rethink on the project indicating a reduction in its height.
From the Bill it is clear that the Congress Central leadership is against the people of Seemandhra regions getting any benefit from the reorganisation, he said.