Date:06/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/06/stories/2008120655190500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Babli: all-party team to Delhi ruled out

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah has ruled out the possibility of the government taking an all-party delegation again to Delhi to seek Central intervention against Babli and 11 barrages being constructed by Maharashtra across the Godavari.

At a press conference here on Friday after the Assembly was adjourned sine die, he said Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had already led one such delegation to Delhi on March 31, 2007, and submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister which was signed by all Opposition leaders, including N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He said it was unfortunate that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) members stalled his reply in the House on Babli, a project which turned out to be a danger for Telangana. He contended that they did so to draw political mileage.

The Minister said “before Congress can do anything in this regard, let these parties reveal the stand taken by their State units in these states’.