Under pressure from opposition parties, the state government on Tuesday adopted a unanimous resolution in the Assembly decrying the illegal construction of several irrigation projects by Maharashtra and Karnataka across rivers Godavari and Krishna which would adversely affect the interests of the state and also render Jalayagnam redundant.
The government which was initially not keen on moving a resolution or taking up a discussion had to finally bow to opposition demand and chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy moved a brief resolution which read - "Maharashtra and Karnataka governments are constructing several irrigation projects illegally beyond their entitlement of water. Maharashtra government was constructing Babli project even in violation of Supreme Court orders. This House unanimously resolves to condemn the actions of both the states." It further said that the House also resolves to request the Centre to impress upon the states not to violate the inter-state agreement and stop the illegal construction of the projects immediately.
The opposition parties wanted the government to list out all the illegal projects in the resolution and seek intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi but the CM turned down the proposal.
But, all this did not prevent the two main parties, the Congress and the TDP, from holding each other responsible for allowing the illegal projects. While TDP charged the Congress government with not making a serious effort in last five years to stop Babli and other illegal projects, the Congress members including the legislative affairs minister K Rosaiah and major irrigation minister P Laxmaiah blamed TDP for `ignoring' the irrigation sector during its nine-year regime and having failed to utilise the surplus water allocated to the state and that the government had not put up a cogent argument before the Supreme Court where the matter was pending.
Refuting the opposition criticism, the chief minister said that his government was committed to protect the interests of the state. "I myself met the Prime Minister several times and asked him to direct these two states to stop the construction," he claimed. The CM said he would lead a delegation to the Prime Minister depending upon his convenience and "if I cannot go, the irrigation minister will lead the team," he added.
The opposition protested over this and said that the matter would gain importance only if the chief minister leads the delegation.
Leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the Maharashtra government was planning to inaugurate `illegal' projects constructed on Godavari to appease voters in the ensuing Assembly election. He demanded that government stop Maharashtra from doing any such thing and see that the Prime Minister convenes a meeting of the chief ministers of three states to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, PRP, BJP and Left MLAs alleged that the government didn't prevent the projects since relatives of important people at the helm of affairs in the state own power units constructed on these projects.
The government which was initially not keen on moving a resolution or taking up a discussion had to finally bow to opposition demand and chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy moved a brief resolution which read - "Maharashtra and Karnataka governments are constructing several irrigation projects illegally beyond their entitlement of water. Maharashtra government was constructing Babli project even in violation of Supreme Court orders. This House unanimously resolves to condemn the actions of both the states." It further said that the House also resolves to request the Centre to impress upon the states not to violate the inter-state agreement and stop the illegal construction of the projects immediately.
The opposition parties wanted the government to list out all the illegal projects in the resolution and seek intervention of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi but the CM turned down the proposal.
But, all this did not prevent the two main parties, the Congress and the TDP, from holding each other responsible for allowing the illegal projects. While TDP charged the Congress government with not making a serious effort in last five years to stop Babli and other illegal projects, the Congress members including the legislative affairs minister K Rosaiah and major irrigation minister P Laxmaiah blamed TDP for `ignoring' the irrigation sector during its nine-year regime and having failed to utilise the surplus water allocated to the state and that the government had not put up a cogent argument before the Supreme Court where the matter was pending.
Refuting the opposition criticism, the chief minister said that his government was committed to protect the interests of the state. "I myself met the Prime Minister several times and asked him to direct these two states to stop the construction," he claimed. The CM said he would lead a delegation to the Prime Minister depending upon his convenience and "if I cannot go, the irrigation minister will lead the team," he added.
The opposition protested over this and said that the matter would gain importance only if the chief minister leads the delegation.
Leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu alleged that the Maharashtra government was planning to inaugurate `illegal' projects constructed on Godavari to appease voters in the ensuing Assembly election. He demanded that government stop Maharashtra from doing any such thing and see that the Prime Minister convenes a meeting of the chief ministers of three states to resolve the issue.
Meanwhile, PRP, BJP and Left MLAs alleged that the government didn't prevent the projects since relatives of important people at the helm of affairs in the state own power units constructed on these projects.
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