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I was misquoted, claims Minister

By Our Special Correspondent

VIJAYAWADA, NOV. 7. Responding to criticism on his conduct during the District Review Committee meeting, the district in-charge Minister, J.C. Diwakar Reddy, clarified that his comments that the delta farmers need not nurse hopes on Krishna water were "misquoted."

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, the Minister said he wanted to convey that the construction of Polavaram project would ease the pressure on Nagarjunasagar project as it would facilitate diversion of Godavari water to Krishna delta.

`Forced to be firm'

"The Polavaram project is designed to cater to the needs of delta farmers, particularly those in uplands.

Once the project is complete, it will irrigate 2.5 lakh acres in addition to the existing irrigated area," he said asserting that nobody could deny the delta farmers their right to Krishna water.

On his "behaviour" during the DRC meeting, the Minister said that being in the Chair, he was forced to be firm with the members to ensure that only relevant issues were discussed. "I will have to maintain discipline. Should I not be firm if the members try to enter into arguments on issues which cannot be solved here?" he asked.

No solution for `issue'

Recalling the sequence of the events during the meeting, he said he objected to the TDP members fighting over GO 107 issued for maintaining the MDDL of Srisailam project at 854 ft.

"That issue cannot be solved here and they too know it. In fact, the GO was issued after conducting an all-party meeting in which the TDP members were also present. Let the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu speak about it. We are prepared to clarify his doubts," he said.

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