Date:20/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/20/stories/2003012003811100.htm

National

'Centre keen on inter-linking rivers'

By Our Staff Reporter

PUTTAPARTHI JAN. 19. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has been taking care of every aspect of development of the country and doing justice to all, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said here today.

Speaking to BJP leaders and workers, he said the conspirators who had been trying to topple the BJP-led NDA Government had failed in every attempt.

Mr. Advani told them that the Centre was keen on inter-linking of at least 32 rivers from the Ganga to the Cauvery as a permanent solution to drought.

The BJP leaders submitted a representation to Mr. Advani on the Hindupur issue along with a copy of the FIR. Among those who called on the Minister included the BJLP leader, N. Indrasena Reddy, the Kadiri legislator, M.S. Parthasarathi, B.S. Vidyasagar and P. Venkataramanappa.

Mr. Reddy, who has been demanding action on the SP and other policemen over the Hindupur incidents, incidentally introduced the SP, Anjana Sinha, to Mr. Advani.

In their representation, the Anantapur MP, K. Srinivasulu, and the Hindupur MP, B.K. Parthasarathi, urged Mr. Advani to sanction Rs. 500 crores to the severely drought-affected Anantapur district including Rs. 100 crores for employment generation. He also requested allocation of another 2 lakh tonnes of rice under the food-for-work programme and Rs. 50 crores for drip irrigation and horticulture.

Asking for long-term measures to overcome drought, he sought sanction of 300 watersheds apart from normal allocation for replenishing the depleting groundwater table. Further, he also requested the setting up of a research centre on artificial rains in the district and technical support to the farmers on medicinal plants by the National Horticulture Board.

The people of the town and devotees of Saibaba, led by the PCC secretary, Kota Satyam, also submitted a representation to Mr. Advani for sanction of a medical college to the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, increasing the frequency of domestic and international flights to the town, diversion of all trains passing from the district via Puttaparthi and formation of Satya Sai district.