Date:23/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/23/stories/2005042310080400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP ready for debate at project sites

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party, while announcing that it has no objection to participate in the ongoing debate on irrigation tenders at project sites, has said the Congress Government would have to take the responsibility for any untoward incident.

At a press conference here on Friday, TDP leaders -- Kadiam Srihari, Nagam Janardhan Reddy and P. Chandrasekhar -- said there was unrest among people who would be displaced by projects.

With motivation from leaders and cadre of political parties, there was a possibility of trouble, they said, reiterating that the Government would have to take the blame for any incident.

Dig at officials

The TDP leaders said that the Irrigation Advisor to the Government, P. Sitapathi Rao, who himself was involved with some contractors, had no right to continue in his position.

They also criticised the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, and the Principal Secretary, irrigation, Prakash Rao, for towing the line of the Government and helping it to hush up `irregularities.'

Mr. Srihari said the TDP had written to the Government asking it to first take up debate on those projects which were thick in controversy.

He said the TDP had asked for debate first on Sriramsagar Project Flood Flow Canal, Polavaram, Telugu Ganga, Nettempadu Lift Irrigation Scheme, Lingala Canal and Gandikota Reservoir.

At a separate press conference, TDP leaders -- E. Peddi Reddy and Motkupalli Narasimhulu -- criticised the Government for being insensitive to the sufferings of the farming community in the State.