The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Put projects on hold: TDP

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Monday, Jan 03, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Put projects on hold: TDP

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JAN. 2. The TDP on Sunday asked the State Government to stop the `hurriedly designed' irrigation projects until the implications of the basin-to-basin transfer of water were thoroughly examined.

The project to diversify 190 tmcft water from Dummagudem on Godavari to Krishna basin would severely affect the State. Instead of irrigating the Nagarjunasagar ayacut with Krishna water in its natural gravitational course, the Government was contemplating diverting Godavari water to the Krishna delta, an action that would spell disaster.

Addressing a press conference here, TDP leaders -- T. Devender Goud, Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy and S. Maruthi -- said the international norms called for spending 60 per cent of the volume of water in a river basin for that ayacut before taking up any diversification. The Government was unable to use assured water at Dummagudem but considered diversification to Krishna basin.

`Selfish agenda'

They also said that the Government created much hype about the projects without consulting experts. They were designed with a selfish agenda to suit the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's native Cuddapah district. The officials took advantage of the eagerness of the Government and came up with innovative ideas to earn the praise of their political bosses but they were ill- conceived.

Stating that there was ample scope for storage at Ellampally, they said if the Government wanted to take up diversification from there it could as well irrigate five districts of backward Telangana up to Shamirpet in Ranga Reddy district which were a major catchment for Godavari.

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