Date:25/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/25/stories/2006032506510600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

TDP to scrutinise irrigation project files today

Special Correspondent

Assembly adjourned abruptly after furore over the issue

HYDERABAD: Relenting from its earlier demand that all files relating to the Sripadasagar project tenders be placed before the Speaker, the Telugu Desam Party has agreed to scrutinise them in the chambers of Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah in the Secretariat at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Much acrimony between the ruling Congress and the TDP besides an abrupt adjournment of the Assembly preceded this decision on Thursday. The House was rocked for nearly half an hour as the controversy ran into the 23rd day.

Returning to the House after their two-day-long suspension, TDP members led by T. Devender Goud insisted on seeing the files at 3 p.m. on Friday. Referring to the offer of the Chief Minister that the Opposition parties could see the files at their convenience, he urged Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy to direct Mr. Lakshmaiah to show the files. The party apprehended that the Government could put off the date of showing of files till the end of the budget session next week.

The Speaker explained that there was a clear procedure for seeing the files and the TDP could write a letter to the Minister.

At one stage when TDP members persisted with their demand, the Speaker said angrily: "I am not a postmaster to convey your views there. It is between you and the Minister." And when the TDP members moved to the Speaker's podium shouting slogans, Mr. Suresh Reddy adjourned the House an hour before schedule. It surprised both treasury and Opposition benches as an evening sitting was scheduled.

TDP flayed

Angry over the Speaker's decision, TDP members planned to stage a protest outside the Minister's chambers in the Secretariat. But, they dropped their plans after Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy and Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy announced at a press conference that the files would be available for scrutiny at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Two MLAs from each party could be present. They slammed the TDP for disrupting the Assembly. They pointed out that the Irrigation Minister required time to summon the officers concerned and make other arrangements. But, the TDP leaders were in a hurry in order to cover up their own failures, they said