Date:03/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010305460400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

BJP urges steps to protect interests of tribals

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 2. The former Union Minister, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, has urged the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to intervene to safeguard the interests of tribals in the State.

He charged the Government with failing to come out with a concrete rehabilitation scheme for people of the agency while planning various irrigation projects.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, he said that it was a serious matter and that the BJP would soon discuss the issue at a party meeting. He appealed to political parties " to come to the rescue of tribals."

Irrigation projects

Mr. Rao also took objection to the State Government's move to rope in expert agencies to prepare Environment Impact Assessment reports for securing fast track clearances for irrigation projects. He said it was not proper to place the future of irrigation projects in the hands of a third party.

He said a high-level official meeting yesterday was reported to have discussed the need to tailor the project reports according to the requirements of the Central Water Commission and termed it "irresponsible."

He said it was obvious that the reports to be prepared by the expert agencies would be quite different from the ones that were already sent to the Central Water Commission.

Stating that authorities had not prepared even the cost-benefit analysis for any of the schemes, he demanded that the Government convene an all-party meeting to discuss various aspects relating to irrigation projects.