‘Bifurcation an atom bomb’

• CM to press for united State on Nov 18
• Samaikyandhra not a political slogan

‘An atom bomb called bifurcation is ready to explode and we are trying to prevent it’, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy stated here on Saturday.

Speaking at Rachabanda III phase programme here, Reddy asserted that he would make all-out efforts to keep the State united while in Delhi on November 18. While reiterating that Telangana would suffer most in the event of division, he said 60-65 per cent Telangana farmers were beneficiaries of the free power supply.

The Chief Minister observed that the main objective of the State formation was to make optimum use water of both the Godavari and the Krishna. The objective remained unfulfilled as projects like the Polavaram, Dummugudem tail-end, Pranahitha-Chevella and Pulichintala were yet to be completed.

He explained that Rs 1 lakh crore was needed to complete the ‘Jalayagnam’ projects. Twenty-three lakh acres have been so far irrigated under Jalayagnam and 30 lakh acres would be covered next year. No irrigation project could be completed if the State was not united. Reddy said the Seemandhra and Telangana regions would have to spend excess of Rs.5,000-6,000 crore on development if the State was bifurcated.

At Chillakallu in Krishna district, Reddy dedicated most of his speech laying stress on a united State and the dangers ahead if it was divided. He made the gathering raise hands favouring Samaikyandhra.

He stated that Samaikyandhra was not just a political slogan and that only a politically-strong State could provide welfare schemes. Both Telangana and Seemandhra would lose importance/opportunities for development.

Kiran Reddy pointed out that Telangana required Rs 60,000 crore to generate electricity, as it has only 50 per cent of the production capacity. The lift irrigation schemes in the region would suffer heavily once the State was divided

He said the State was able to develop IT only because of its strong political base. The technology used for ‘Mangalyan’ was developed in Hyderabad, from where 50 per cent of the world’s flights were being monitored, all possible only because of unity.

The CM said as Maharastra and Karnataka were using more water now the State if divided would lose 300 tmc. A study by Delhi IIT had shown that Seemandhra and Telangana would lose its due share after the division. Diversion of the Godavari water through Dummugudem and Polavaram projects would help farmers.

Reddy sought people’s support for his Samaikyandhra fight.“I can present Samaikyandhra argument strongly only if you all support me.” He would fight for united AP till the last minute and asked people to keep fighting for Samaikyandhra.

MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, Education Minister K Prarthasaradhi, MLAs Sriram Rajagopal, Vellampalli Srinivas, Malladi Vishnu, D Y Das, former ministers Mandali Buddha Prasad, Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru, Collector M Raghunandana Rao were present.