The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : TDP: State lacks clarity on Pothireddypadu

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Friday, Dec 23, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

TDP: State lacks clarity on Pothireddypadu

Special Correspondent

Seeks scientific study to avoid charge of regional bias

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam on Thursday contended that there was no clarity in the Government's stand on enhancing the capacity of Pothireddypadu head regulator as indicated by the number of orders it had issued and modified them following criticism.

Addressing a press conference, senior party leaders -- T. Devender Goud, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Umareddy Venkateswarlu and P. Keshav -- said that it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister was "twisting facts" and portraying as if there was difference of opinion in the TDP ranks on the issue when his own Government's view was ambiguous.

TDP stand clear

Three GOs had been issued, each one adding to the existing controversy.

They said the TDP's stand was clear. It was not against any irrigation project including Pothireddypadu head regulator but only wanted a comprehensive and scientific study to avoid charges of regional bias. It wanted equitable distribution of water and balanced development of the State.

Single-point agenda

The all- party meeting held on Wednesday showed that the Government convened it merely as a formality to give the impression that it had consulted all parties.

The idea was not to take the political parties into confidence but pressure them to agree to the Government's proposal. The single point agenda of the Government was to push through the projects using them as masks to make certain sections rich. They accused the Government with humiliating them at the meeting by making them sit at the back.

The Chief Minister too passed snide remarks against them, not befitting his status.

Mr. Keshav charged the Congress leaders of Anantapur district with spreading a disinformation campaign against him and the TDP saying it had walked out of the all- party meeting against provision of 10 tmcft of water to the district.

The walkout was to protest the Government's adamant stand on Pothireddypadu head regulator issue. "Whoever is protesting should know that my demand for 10 tmcft was repeated by the Chief Minister himself".

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