ELURU: C. Srinivas, president of the Andhra Development Forum, on Monday questioned the rationale behind the Government's decision to establish the Tsunami Study Centre in Hyderabad. Addressing a press conference, he said the study centre should have been set up somewhere on the coastline prone to disasters like tsunami. What way Hyderabad, which was not familiar with tsunamis and far away from the coast, got relevance to the studies on tsunamis, he wondered.

He also criticised the Government for setting up Fisheries Development Corporation in Hyderabad by ignoring the coastal region.

It all spoke volumes for the Government's stepmotherly attitude towards Andhra in terms of development, he said.

Godavari waters

The Andhra Development Forum leader wanted the Government to bring back Bhadhrachalam revenue division, which was under the limits of East Godavari district before its bifurcation and merger with Khammam district in the `60s, into Andhra borders. With Bhadhrachalam being the gateway for the entry of the Godavari and its tributaries into the State, it held the key to utilisation of its due share in the Godavari waters and hydel power harnessed with the river waters by the Andhra region.

If Bhadhrachalam went to Telangana in the event of the realisation of the statehood for that region, there would be no water, no power and no future either for the Andhra region, he apprehended.

All-party dharna

A dharna was staged at the Collectorate here on Monday under the aegis of all parties, seeking distribution of house sites among the urban poor in and around the city.

The CPI(M), CPI-ML (New Democracy), BJP and Telugu Desam Party took part in the dharna.

Memorandum

A memorandum was submitted to the district revenue officer seeking the intervention of the district administration in providing house sites to the eligible houseless people.

CPI(M) district secretary Mantena Sitaram said the party had identified an extent of 150 acres of the State government wasteland surrounding the city and which could be earmarked for house sites for the poor.

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