Date:01/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/01/stories/2005120105910600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP threatens to intensify agitation over projects

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party leaders from Telangana have criticised the Andhra Pradesh Government for seeking Central funds for irrigation projects in the region while taking up projects in other regions with State funds.

Participating in a dharna organised by the Ranga Reddy district party unit demanding speedy completion of projects in Telangana on Wednesday, they referred to the latest appeal made by the State to the Centre, and said it was nothing but discrimination against the region. The Government and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi had gone back on their promises made to the people of the region, they said, and threatened to intensify their agitation by taking up padayatra in the coming days. They would also meet Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in the next two days and submit a memorandum to him.

TDP Polit Bureau member T. Devender Goud said the Congress and the TRS won the vote making tall promises such as working for development of Telangana and providing free power supply to farmers without any restrictions. The TRS had spoken of disposing of the Nizam's jewellery for building projects and allotment of three acres each to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes families. But they had failed on all counts.

Scholarship amounts

Even scholarship amounts due to students belonging to weaker sections had not been released. None of the much talked about irrigation projects had taken off. All that the Government did was to call for tenders and pay mobilisation advances to contractors, he added.

TDP general secretary Kadiam Srihari said the Government's partisanship could be seen in the way it was taking up the Polavaram project while ignoring Inchampalli. The neglect was clear in the case of other projects too in Telangana.