Date:17/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/17/stories/2006021716290400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`No compromise on Polavaram project'

Special Correspondent

To mobilise tribal MPs and mount pressure on Prime Minister

Congress cannot bulldoze its way: TRS
CPI(M) wants the design to be altered

TDP seeks water policy that does not affect State's integrity

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has declared that it will wage an "uncompromising fight" till the work on Polavaram dam is halted. It has also accused the Government of conspiring to divert waters of Telangana to the Andhra region.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, TRS Floor leader Vijayarama Rao and other party MLAs declared that the Congress could not bulldoze its way just because it had majority. They said that pressure would be mounted on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by mobilising all tribal MPs since two lakh tribals would be displaced by the project.

CPI(M) Floor leader N. Narasimaiah faulted the Government for going ahead with the project and said that his party would organise a struggle against it in a democratic way. He demanded that the project be taken up with an alternative design.

TDP MLAs - N. Janardhan Reddy and K. Venkata Rao - accused the Government of failing to ensure the smooth functioning of the House. They demanded that the Government come out with a water policy. BJP leader G. Kishan Reddy criticised the TRS for stalling the proceedings.