Date:26/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/26/stories/2007072659720600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

YSR assures ‘flow irrigation’ under G.O. 34

Special Correspondent

TRS members suspended, Opposition members walk out

TRS MLAs demand scrapping of ’anti-Telangana G.O.’
‘Drip irrigation made compulsory as an experiment’

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy assured the Assembly on Wednesday that the G.O. No. 34 would not be implemented “till it is accepted by farmers” and “flow irrigation” would be ensured through field channels etc under all lift irrigation schemes.

He made this announcement after nine Telangana Rashtra Samithi members were suspended for the day after they stormed the podium demanding scrapping of the “anti-Telangana G.O.”.

The suspended members—G. Vijayarama Rao, A. Chandrasekhar, A. Govinda Naicker, Ch. Lakshma Reddy, A. Nagesh, M. Padma Devender Reddy, E. Rajender, S. Ramalinga Reddy and P. Padma Rao, were shown the door by marshals.

The rest of the Opposition sailed with the TRS by staging a walkout later resenting the Government’s “adamant attitude” in conceding the TRS demand.

In his reply to the debate on the subject earlier, Major Irrigation Minister P. Lakshmaiah said drip/sprinkler irrigation was made compulsory under all lift irrigation schemes “as an experiment” under the GO.

Increase yield

The GO was applicable to lift schemes in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra also, and not merely to Telangana as alleged. Drip irrigation, he said, would increase the yield per acre by 30 to 40 per cent.

Mr. Lakshmaiah said the report proposing introduction of micro-irrigation in a big way was submitted to the Union Government by none other than the former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu heading a taskforce on the subject.

As the new Deputy Speaker G. Kutuhalamma took up the agenda, TRS members rushed to the podium, raising slogans against the Government Order.

Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy who replaced Ms Kutuhalamma later, suspended them following a resolution moved by Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao.

T. Devender Goud (Telugu Desam), N. Narsimhaiah (CPI-M), Ch. Venkat Reddy (CPI), G. Kishen Reddy (BJP), G. Narsaiah (CPI-ML New Democracy), dubbed t he GO as discriminatory against Telangana, affecting in particular, the farmers under Alimineti Madhava Reddy lift scheme in Nalgonda district.

They led their members out in protest.