HYDERABAD: Alleging that the Congress’ opposition to construction of irrigation projects is ‘blind opposition’, irrigation minister T Harish Rao requested the opposition party’s leaders with folded hands: “scold us, if you want. But, do not obstruct the construction of irrigation projects by filing cases.”
Replying to the debate on demands for grants for irrigation department in the state legislative Assembly on Tuesday, Harish Rao said Congress leaders, who had unsuccessfully contested against TRS leaders in 2014 elections, filed cases in courts and with National Green Tribunal against the projects. “Even cases were filed in the name of those who died long back. Stop this,” he said.
T Jeevan Reddy of Congress admitted that some farmers died and their sons were unable to get legal heir certificates. “Without having knowledge, sons filed cases in the name of their dead fathers. They do not know the procedure and with their thumb impressions, they filed cases in the courts on behalf of their dead fathers,” Reddy explained.
‘Double standards’
Harish Rao also accused the Congress of adopting double standards on irrigation projects. “The Congress opposed Mallanna Sagar, citing submergence of large areas. But leaders of the same party staged dharnas demanding construction of Thotapally reservoir, which is likely to submerge six villages. Whatever decision the government took, Congress blindly opposes it,” he said.
However, the minister said that the Thotapally reservoir site was changed to Gouravelli where the submergence would be minimal. Yellampalli-Mid-Manair-Lower Manair dam would be completed in the current year, the minister added.
Harish Rao said that not a single irrigation project was completed in the 10 years of Congress rule even though 34 projects were conceived. “But TRS allocated huge amounts of money for irrigation projects and provided irrigation water to more than 5 lakh acres of land in last two years,” he claimed.
Congress’ claim
Congress members DK Aruna, Jeevan Reddy and others disputed Harish Rao’s claim and said that more than 80 per cent of the project works were completed during Congress rule but the TRS government was taking credit for completing the remaining work.