NAGARJUNASAGAR: Minister for Major Irrigation Ponnala Lakshmaiah has taken strong exception to the Orissa MPs argument that Andhra Pradesh has decided to raise the full reservoir level of Polavaram project to 180 ft and it would submerge a number of tribal villages in their State.

He also refuted the allegation that Andhra Pradesh is not ready to provide necessary information to them.

Speaking to reporters after lifting the crest gates of the Nagarjunasagar project to let copious floodwater at View Point guesthouse here on Thursday, Mr. Lakshamaiah said:

"It is unfortunate that some of the Orissa MPs made incorrect statements in the House. The FRL of the project is 150 ft not 180 ft propagated by them and only eight villages in Orissa need to be evacuated."

`No response'

He charged the Orissa Government with failing to come forward to have a detailed discussion to sort out the problem.

"We are ready to pay compensation to the evacuees. If they are not ready to accept it, we will pay for the construction of a protection wall to save the villages from inundation.

They (Orissa Government) have not given an appointment to a team led by me," he maintained.

He alleged that they had not properly responded to the telephonic calls made by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy himself for a high level meeting on the issue.

Ready for solution

He further said that the State Government was willing to sit across the table to come to an amicable solution to the problem.

"We are ready to clear their doubts and objections and discuss the compensation package for the evacuees. Raising objections to a multi-purpose project that would help lakhs of people is highly objectionable," Mr.Lakshmaiah observed.

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