HYDERABAD: At a time when the opposition parties are making a hue and cry against the government’s proposal to change the design of irrigation projects, commercial taxes minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav too raised the pitch indicating that the government will not sit silently, if the opposition parties create hurdles in execution of government projects.
‘’We will arrest the opposition leaders if they object to irrigation projects. We will go ahead with re-designing of the projects,” Srinivas Yadav has said.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, the minister described Congress leaders as ‘thieves’ who looted money in the name of irrigation projects. “Who is Congress to object to redesigning of projects? We are in the government and will design projects as per the needs of the people,” he said.
On the construction of an illegal barrage across Krishna river by Karnataka government, Srinivas Yadav wanted the state Congress leaders, who are raising objection to irrigation projects, to influence their party chief Sonia Gandhi and see that Karnataka puts a halt to the construction of the barrage.
The minister also came down heavily on BJP leaders for objecting to introduction of cheap liquor. “Liquor is available in every pan shop in Gujarat, where complete prohibition of liquor is in force,” he said and wanted BJP state leaders to go to Gujarat and conduct a survey on availability of liquor.
TS to Raise Pattiseema before GRMB
The state irrigation department officials have decided to raise the issue of Pattiseema project by the Andhra Pradesh government in the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) meeting to be held here on August 27. The state government has already objected to Pattiseema project of the AP government, claiming that it was taken up without clearance from the Central Water Commission (CWC). Telangana has demanded additional quota of 40 tmc in Krishna, as the AP government constructed and diverted Godavari waters through Pattiseema. The AP government on its part already has lodged a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) on two projects Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and Dindi projects proposed by the Telangana government. The KRMB sought explanation from Telangana government following the objection raised by AP government. “We will inform the KRMB that these two projects are old ones,’’ an official said adding that the Godavari Management Board meeting will be held on August 27, much before the KRMB meeting.