The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : YSR promises Tamil Nadu of Telugu Ganga water

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

YSR promises Tamil Nadu of Telugu Ganga water

By Our Staff Reporter

NELLORE, SEPT.28. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has assured the people of Chennai that Telugu Ganga water will be supplied as per the existing agreement and according to the wishes of late Indira Gandhi. Accordingly, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that water from the project reaches the borders by October 15.

Addressing a public meeting at Pennar bridge, near Nellore town, on Tuesday after inaugurating the new Pennar bridge extension works, the Chief Minister, who made a reference to the fervent appeal of the Union Minister for Surface Transport, T.R. Balu, for release of water to Chennai city and the desire of the DMK Chief, M. Karunanidhi, pointed out that the people of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu were brothers and every step would be taken to supply the much needed drinking water. He requested the Union Minister to convey the feelings and best wishes of the people of Andhra Pradesh to Mr. Karunanadhi, whom he described as a 'leader of all of us'.

Commitment

He said that 12 tmcft. of water had reached Somasila reservoir, from where it will reach Kandaleru and ultimately to the borders. Dr. Reddy assured Mr. Balu that Andhra Pradesh stood by its commitment in this regard.

The Chief Minister announced some sops for Nellore and said steps had already been taken with regard to upgradation of Nellore Municipality to the level of Corporation. A leather park would come up at Nellore for Dalits at a cost of Rs. 150 crores

Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy announced the hike of diesel limit on subsidy to fishermen from 1,000 litres to 3,000 litres, for which the State Government would spend Rs. 6 crores. Fishermen, including those with mechanised boats, had been assured of sophisticated communication network by way of radio phone system. Aqua farmers were assured power supply in a single phase during night.

Naidu attacked

Referring to free power supply, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy maintained that the Congress would stand by its promise, and launched a scathing attack on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for heckling the free power announcement that only empty power lines would remain to be useful for hanging clothes, once the Congress implemented the scheme. He accused the TDP of instigating farmers on some pretext or other, and appealed to them to desist from such futile attempts. Dr. Reddy said that the TDP had failed to sanction even 20,000 new power connections to farmers.

Later, talking to newsmen, Dr. Reddy said the Telugu Ganga water to Chennai would be supplied only after meeting the needs of people belonging to Nellore district.

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