Date:22/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/22/stories/2008022254510500.htm

Andhra Pradesh

CPI (M) seeks Rs.4,000 cr for water schemes on Godavari

Staff Reporter

Walk for water: CPI(M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu and Medak disrict secretary Chukka Ramulu during the padayatra near Narsapur on Thursday demanding Devadula third phase for Medak district.

NARSAPUR (MEDAK): Communist Party of India (M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu demanded allocation of Rs. 4,000 crore for the Godavari water utilisation authority for the speedy completion of projects based on that river. Raghavulu who participated in the party’s Medak unit padayatra for Singur and Godavari water later addressed a public meeting here.

Asking the State Government to prioritise the Jalayagnam basing on the irrigation available in the districts said that Mahbubnagar, Medak , Adilabad and Anantapur district should have been given preference while contemplating and implementing irrigation and drinking water projects. He opined that unless projects like Itchampalli, Devadula and Pranahitha are completed the Singur water could never be allocated to Medak district.

He criticised the Government for allocating a mere Rs. 500 crore for Devadula lift irrigation project and said that looking at the current pace of the work would take decades to bring Godavari water to Medak district. He demanded the Government to stop further investing on Polavaram project and complete the projects in drought prone districts that have no other alternative irrigation facilities. He pointed out that personal gain has become a sole criteria for constructions of projects in the State. He also criticised the State Government for not allocating any funds to the Telangana Regional Development Board and said that the proposed development authority for backward area development mooted by the Chief Minister in the State Assembly would face similar problems if funds are not allocated for such bodies.

CPI(M) district secretary Chukka Ramulu who called for a united effort by all political parties for Singur water for the district warned the Government that the party would not think twice to physically obstruct supply of Manjeera water to Hyderabad if the government failed to keep its promise.

Former CPI legislator Ch.Vittal Reddy who expressed solidarity to the Marxists assured their cooperation. He called for obstruction of the ongoing pipeline laying work in the constituency linking Manjeera water to Gajwel and Dommata segments unless the government agrees to provide drinking and irrigation water to the villages of Narsapur mandal.