Date:11/03/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/03/11/stories/2005031113310500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Uproarious scenes in Assembly over RDS

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 10. The construction of a mini hydel project by a relative of the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on the Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) rocked the Assembly today leading to uproarious scenes.

Telugu Desam members rushed to the podium thrice seeking an opportunity for their leader, N. Chandrababu Naidu, or N. Janardhan Reddy (TDP ) to express the party's viewpoint. The debate, which centred round the TDP's allegation that construction of the mini hydel plant was depriving Mahabubnagar farmers of water remained inconclusive.

The House witnessed acrimonious exchanges during the debate with TDP and Congress members accusing each other of failing to protect the State's interests. Tempers ran high when Dr. Janardhan Reddy blamed Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy for clearing the power project in spite of the Superintending Engineer of RDS bringing to his notice that it was under execution without a no-objection certificate from Andhra Pradesh. He demanded that steps be taken to halt the project.

Noisy protests

He alleged that Dr. Reddy, as Leader of the Opposition, had had put in a word to the then Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, to push the project which was promoted by his relative. This triggered off noisy protests from the treasury benches. He claimed that stopping the project was easy since the Congress was in power in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka as well as the Centre. He criticised the TRS for ignoring Telangana interests by being silent on the project, sparking off loud protest by the Civil Supplies Minister, G. Vijayarama Rao.

Mr. Muddukrishnama Naidu (Congress) came out with a strong rebuttal, and sought to turn the tables against Mr. Chandrababu Naidu saying it was cleared during Telugu Desam regime. He contended that the hydel project would not affect the State as it was based on flood waters of the RDS and that the water used by it would rejoin the river. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu flayed the Congress for speaking in two tongues. The Government saw the project as a violation by Karnataka whereas the party favoured it, he said.

CPI (M), CPI and Samajwadi Party members wanted an all-party team along with experts to be deputed to inspect the project and also to press the Centre to prevent Karnataka from going ahead. P. Laxma Reddy (TRS) said that the project should be stopped if it caused harm to Mahabubnagar district.

Charge against Karnataka

In a statement laid on the table of the House, the Major Irrigation Minister, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, charged Karnataka with violating Krishna Waters Dispute Tribunal Award in unilaterally going ahead with the construction of the hydel project.