HYDERABAD: Giving an indication of what is in store in the coming days of the Budget session of Telangana Assembly, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday tore into the opposition Congress slamming them for remaining as mute spectators when the previous AP goverments, and more particularly former CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy, took up irrigation projects that proved detrimental to the interests of the state.
“You (Congress leaders) were in the cabinet when Rajasekhara Reddy took up construction of projects like Pothireddypadu, Pulichintala and Polavaram. You never opposed them. Projects which ended up in inter-state disputes and entangled in environment issues were given to Telangana,” Rao alleged refuting the charges levelled by opposition Congress against the TRS government signing pact with Maharashtra for construction of five barrages on river Godavari.
“This is not the end. I will expose all your deeds when the House takes up special discussion on irrigation projects with power point presentation,” he added.
“When I signed the pact, Jeevan Reddy (Cong MLA) called it a black day. How can you say so?” Rao thundered.
Another MLA G Chinna Reddy also had a taste of the CM’s fury. On Chinna Reddy’s demand for drawing water for Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme from Jurala, Rao retorted: “Do you have any knowledge? The capacity of Jurala is just 12 tmc and it will dry up within two days, if water is drawn from there for PRLIS.
That is why we wanted to take water from Srisailam foreshore.” Rao even advised the Opposition to stop their foolish acts which will defame Telangana. “Do not insult TS in the country,” he advised.
Earlier, Jeevan Reddy alleged that the government has mortgaged Telangana to Maharashtra by signing the pact on setting up an inter-state water board on Godavari projects.
Jeevan Reddy accused the TRS government of betraying the people of Telangana by agreeing to reduce the height of Tummadi Hatti barrage and surrendering to Maharashtra the rights of Telangana over Godavari water.
With the state government changing the design of the project and renaming it as Pranahita-Kaleshwaram project, the cost of the project has shot up from the previous `38,000 crore to `80,000 crore, he added.
Soon after Rao completed his address, the Congress members sought permission to seek clarifications. N Uttam Kumar Reddy of Congress and MIM member Akbaruddin Owaisi were given opportunity and the House was adjourned for Monday much to the chagrin of opposition members. The Congress, TDP and BJP members later staged a protest at the Speaker’s chamber against the Speaker’s attitude of curtailing the voice of the opposition.
The opposition members also found fault with the Speaker for curtailing the Question Hour as there was a question related to SC/ST Sub Plan in it. “The government is afraid that it will be exposed if the failure to implement the Sub Plan funds is raised. They are running away from the debate,” alleged TTDP MLA A Revanth Reddy.
State Budget Today
The state Budget for 2016-17 will be presented in the Legislative Assembly and Council at 11.35 am on Monday. This is the third Budget of Telangana State. Finance minister E Rajender will present the Budget in the Assembly while deputy CM K Srihari will present the Budget in the Council.