The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Process of inviting bids for 156 packages completed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 10, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Process of inviting bids for 156 packages completed

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN.9. The process of inviting tenders for 156 packages of irrigation projects in different categories was completed on Sunday.

Disclosing this to reporters here, the Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, said the tenders were being invited for 30 packages in category-I (Rs. 100 crores and above), 116 in category-II (below Rs.50 crores) and 10 open tenders. The total cost of the projects was Rs. 24,000 crores.

Replying to a question on the 21 packages which are before court, he said the Government would abide by the verdict.

Pulichintala

On the Pulichintala project, he said the tender process was started by the previous Government and the present regime was only completing it.

Earlier, inaugurating a convention on "Water use and social justice, Mr. Lakshmaiah, accused some people of trying to create hurdles by whipping up regional feelings in the Rs.46,000-crore "Mahajala Yagnam" launched by the Government. He said 33 lakh acres of the 65 lakh acres ayacut proposed to be created would be in Telangana region. The projects would also cater to the irrigation needs of Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.

He said that such criticism was not proper and asked the "critics" what they did when they had an opportunity.

Call for coordination

Stating that the Government had taken up irrigation projects on a war- footing, he called for greater coordination between the Centre and the State for their speedy clearance and execution. He recalled how some projects remained incomplete for 15 to 20 years, and cited the example of Telugu Ganga.

Mr. Lakshmaiah called for a big movement on water conservation. There was also need to bring in enactments to make the polluter responsible for pollution.

S. Sudhakar Reddy, MP, while blaming the TDP regime for neglecting the irrigation sector, hailed the government initiative on this front. He, however, wanted the Government to give top priority to backward areas of Telangana and Rayalaseema while executing the projects. There should also be clarity on distribution of Godavari waters.

He urged the Government to stop privatisation of drinking water.

Appeal to greens

K. Nageswara Rao, president, AP Rythu Sangam, lauded the Government for taking up irrigation projects ignoring the World Bank conditionalities, which were implemented by the TDP regime. He appealed to environmentalists not to obstruct the projects as they were needed for the country's self-reliance.

The convention was organised by the Insurance Employees' Association, Institute of Social Thought and AP Ryothu Sangam.

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