Sangareddy: The CPI (M) State secretariat that met in Hyderabad on Monday expressed concern over the efforts of the Congress government to introduce water meters in the agriculture sector. The State leadership has decided to educate and organise the farmers against the decision of the State Government.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, CPI (M) polit buro member B.V. Raghavulu pointed out tat the State government has already initiated the process of fitting the meters in the Vamsadhara, KC canal and Nagarjunasagar command areas in a most secretive way. He said that the State leadership has opined that Congress party, just like its predecessor TDP would like to please the World Bank for the third phase of Structural adjustment loan. Raghavulu told reporters that the Congress government might even go a step forward and distribute water on Volumetric basis and allow the water user associations to sell water which will have far reaching repercussions on the farming sector in the long run.

Delaying tactics

The secretariat, which pondered upon the strategy to be adopted for Panchayat elections, has felt that the Congress could once again use the delaying tactics to scuttle the winning chances of CPI (M), just like it did during the municipal elections. Raghavulu said that so far there was no response from the Congress. He announced that CPI (M) would go ahead and contest in 200 ZPTC seats and 2000 of MPTC seats on its own if Congress would not respond before the election notification. Raghavulu said that his party would also claim the Chairmanship of Khammam and Nalgonda Zilla Parishads. However, the State secretariat has not discussed the issue of any possible alliance with TDP. He announced that the CPI (M) along with secular political parties would take up a nation wide protest on 13 of this month against the hike in petroleum prices.

Earlier, Raghavulu participated in the CPI (M) Medak unit's rally demanding Manjira water and addressed a public meeting near the Ambedkar statue. Medak district secretary Chukka Ramulu and district organising committee member B. Mallesham also participated.

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