The Hindu : Front Page : YSR asks political parties to help fully harness river waters

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 04, 2005

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Front Page

YSR asks political parties to help fully harness river waters

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister writes open letter to all political parties and NGOs in State

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has sought the cooperation of all the political parties, non-Governmental Organisations and people of the State to fully harness the potential of Godavari and Krishna river basins by completing the irrigation projects.

In an open letter on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy expressed deep concern over the fact that huge amounts of floodwater was being wasted into the sea. The recent heavy rains in the catchment areas of the two river systems highlighted the urgent need to utilise the water fully.

He said that political parties in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were brushing aside political affiliations and joining hands to construct irrigation projects. "They have set an example for others. It is time we show to the world that we can do better," he said.

Dr. Reddy asserted that the projects would be executed in a transparent manner and went on to add that the Government was ready to clarify doubts, allay fears and suspicions. The irrigation projects would have made considerable progress but for the hurdles created on their construction.

"It is time everyone realised that political squabbles are not be allowed to come in the way of achieving the noble task of construction irrigation projects," Dr. Reddy noted.

Gigantic task

The Chief Minister said that the significance of the gigantic task taken up by the Government should be understood from the fact that 700 tmcft Godavari water was already let into the sea and 500 tmcft of Krishna water would also join the sea.

The only strategy for over all development of agrarian economy was to fully tap Godavari floodwater and divert a part of it to the Krishna basin, he added. Dr. Reddy said tenders to the tune of Rs. 30,000 crores had been finalised and 33 major irrigation projects had been prioritised for completion at a whopping cost of Rs. 50,000 crores.

In accordance with the Cabinet decision, the Chief Minister deputed Finance Minister, K. Rosaiah and Home Minister K. Jana Reddy to perform Gangamma puja at Nagarjunasagar project on Thursday.

The Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Laxmaiah, would perform a similar puja at Srisailam reservoir, while the Sports Minister, M. Satyanarayan Rao, would visit Sriramsagar project. The Higher Education Minister P. Venkateswara Rao and Panchayat Raj Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy would perform puja at the Prakasam barrage.

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