The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Illegal projects on Godavari to be stopped: YSR

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Illegal projects on Godavari to be stopped: YSR

Staff Reporter

`Maharashtra's mini schemes without clearance from Centre'

KARIMNAGAR: The Andhra Pradesh Government will take all possible steps to stop construction of illegal projects on the Godavari by neighbouring Maharashtra and protect the interests of the Telangana region farmers, according to the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy.

Speaking after inaugurating a two-day `Rythu sadassu' here at Chintakunta village in Karimnagar mandal on Saturday, the Chief Minister said that the Maharashtra Government was constructing mini projects such as Babli and others on the river without any permission from the Centre. The illegal projects by Maharashtra were detrimental to the interest of the Telangana region farmers, he said, adding that the Government would wage a battle in a democratic manner against the illegal projects. "No one should violate the norms and we will go to any extent for the protection of our State's interest," he pointed out.

Attack on TDP

Launching a scathing attack against the Telugu Desam Party for neglecting the core sectors of agriculture and irrigation during its 10-year rule, Dr. Rajashekhara Reddy said that the TDP had stated that agriculture was a waste sector and did not show alternative schemes to farmers. Ridiculing the remarks made by the TDP and the BJP leaders that the Government had diluted free power to farmers, he asked whether any farmer had paid power bills during the last one year and the response was no amid applause.

Reiterating that the Government was committed to providing free and quality power to farmers, he said that they had stopped free power only to the rich farmers who paid income tax. He also urged farmers to fix capacitors to their motors so that they could save at least 25 per cent of power consumption. He also said that they would take up SRSP stage-II, SRSP Flood flow canal and Yellampalli projects.

Refuting the charges levelled by the former Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, during his visit to Karimnagar on Thursday, Dr. Reddy said that Mr. Naidu was shedding only crocodile tears on the Upper Manair dam (UMD).

He released the farmers' calendar on the occasion.

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