KURNOOL: The Communist Party of India (CPI) is likely to deviate from the stand taken by its cousin CPI(M) on the Polavaram project issue and press for its speedy completion. The Andhra Pradesh Raithu Sangham, affiliated to the CPI, is going to take up a lengthy debate on the Polavaram project at its three-day 15th State meet beginning here on Monday.

Raithu Sangham state secretary K. Ramakrishna said Polavaram was more important for Rayalaseema and Telangana region than Coastal Andhra. If the needs of Coastal Andhra could be met from the Polavaram project, the surplus water in the Krishna could be diverted to Rayalaseeama and Telangana projects through Pothireddypadu regulator, SLBC, Nettempadu and Bhima irrigation projects.

Rehabilitation issue

On rehabilitation issue, Mr. Ramakrishna said the society and Government had better awareness about the people displaced by any project now and the oustees could be rehabilitated as per the national guidelines. The meeting is expected to focus on modernisation of Tungabhadra High Level Canal (HLC) as 10 tmcft was allotted to the Penna Ahobilam Reservoir (PABR) in Anantapur. Mr. Ramakrishna said Hundri-Neeva project be allotted 70 tmcft instead of 40 tmcft as a total of 6.02 lakh acres ayacut was envisaged under the project. Apart from the ayacut, the canal was to supply drinking water to 33-lakh population requiring five tmcft and another five tmcft towards evaporation losses.

The Raithu Sangham is likely to place on record its appreciation for the Congress Government for its pro-farmer policies but also declare that the steps would be inadequate to cure the agriculture sector of its ailments.

All-India Kisan Sabha national president C.K. Chandrappan will formally inaugurate the meet.

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