Babhali project : AP to file review petition in SC

Hyderabad: The second all-party meeting on Babhali project issue unanimously decided to seek a review cum clarification on the judgment from Apex Court, to further safeguard the interests of the State.A The all-party meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, at Secretariat on Monday, favoured getting more clarity on the safeguards to protect the interests of the State.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also suggested that all-party leaders, whoever had good knowledge and interest, may accompany Major Irrigation Minister P Sudarshan Reddy to Delhi for review and clarification. The government had also decided to utilise the services of a senior advocate of Supreme Court for this appeal, suggested by the opposition party leaders.

The Chief Minister has opined that after receiving a favourable direction from the Supreme Court on the review cum clarification petition, the State government would appeal to the Union government for a joint meeting with Maharashtra on the issue.A The leaders of political parties came to unanimous conclusion that the supervisory committee for the compliance of judgement should be empowered with executive powers for implementation of its directives.

The meeting has observed that in case of defiance and violations of directives laid by the committee, stringent penalty needed to be levied as determined by the Supreme Court. Kiran Kumar said that the government was ready to add suitable suggestions from all party leaders on the review cum clarification appeal proposal and directed the officials accordingly.

Sudarshan Reddy briefed the government plans on the SC verdict and asked for the suggestions of the leaders of opposition parties. He said that the government would take an all party team to Delhi, while filing review petition and meet the central leaders on the issue to appraise the State's condition after the verdict.A TDP legislator T Nageswara Rao said that the government's nonchalant attitude caused damage to the same and it should take up damage control exercise soon. He said that the government should ensure to have the due say of the State in supervisory committee.

TRS leader B Vinod Kumar claimed that the government completely failed in safeguarding the interests of Telangana over Babhali. CPI secretary K Narayana said that the government should act properly at least from now onwards and protect the interests of farmers in the State. BJP leader S V Seshagiri Rao said that the government had made mistakes in Babhali and it should at least take up remedy measures now. Kiran Kumar Reddy felt that the executive powers should be delegated to the supervisory committee by the Parliament for effective implementation of the judgment.

Chief whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy, whip Anil, E Dayakara Rao and E Peddi Reddy, TDP, Chada Venkata Reddy, CPI, R Vidyasagar Rao, TRS, S V Seshagiri Rao, BJP, Syed Amin Jafri, MIM, V Lakshman Balaji and P Ravi Maruthi, Lok Satta, K K Mahender Reddy, YSRCP and senior legal advisors, senior officials from the Irrigation Department attended the all- party meeting.

All-party meet on Pranahita The Chief Minister directed the officials to convene an all-party meeting on the 'final agreement proposed with Maharashtra Government' on Pranahita-Chevella project for sharing information and taking suggestions.