HYDERABAD: Irrigation minister T Harish Rao directed the officials concerned to file counter affidavits in various courts in a speedy manner with regard to the petitions filed by the opposition parties against irrigation projects.Holding an exclusive review for the first time on pending court cases relating to irrigation projects, at Jala Soudha here on Saturday, the irrigation minister said the delay due to court cases would escalate the cost of the under-construction irrigation projects in the state. He directed the officials to file counter affidavits immediately in order to ensure that court cases are cleared at the earliest so that the projects could be implemented without any extra cost.
“React immediately, if any court issued stay orders for the construction of any irrigation project, see that they are vacated,” Harish Rao directed his legal team. “If we cannot complete the construction of irrigation projects on time, we cannot do justice to the farmers,” Harish Rao said. He, then, suggested the counsels to present strong arguments so that the judgements would be in favour of government.
“The reason for some judgements delivering against the government’s decision is due to not filing counter affidavits in time and also not present strong arguments,” the irrigation minister observed. The advocates should inform the pro-farmer measures being taken by the government, so that the courts too would not stop the construction of the irrigation projects, he felt.