Congress condemns Telangana's Godavari pact with Maharashtra

Hyderabad The opposition Congress in Telangana on Tuesday staged protests over the state government signing an agreement with Maharashtra over construction of projects across Godavari river.

Alleging that Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has bartered state's interests by signing the agreement, the main opposition party observed a "black day" by staging protests across the state.

The Congress leaders submitted memorandums to collectors in all districts to protest against the pact signed by Rao and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devender Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday.

In Hyderabad, Congress leaders led by party's state unit president Uttam Kumar Reddy took out a rally from party headquarters Gandhi Bhavan to the office of Hyderabad district collector

Terming the agreement for Kaleswaram project as a great betrayal, Reddy said that the previous Congress government in undivided Andhra Pradesh had decided to build Paranahita project with 152 metre barrage at Tummadihatti at a cost of Rs 38,000 crore.

The Congress leader said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government not only agreed to bring down the height of the barrage to 148 metre but also increased the cost of the project to Rs 83,000 crore. He alleged that huge financial irregularities are being committed in the irrigation projects.