Cong to approach SC on Pranahita-Chevella

‘Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao is delaying the Pranahita project even though it has all the clearances from the Centre and the disputes with Maharashtra being resolved for his political gains. The project report prepared by WAPCO and several other teams of experts gave their nod’

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir cautioned the State government that Congress party would approach Supreme Court on the issue of Pranahita Chevella for proper spending of the public money without wastage.

Speaking to media at the Assembly premises, he demanded the State Government to convene a special session of Assembly and Legislative Council to take a final decision on the project. Mohammed Ali Shabbir alleged that the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was delaying the Pranahita project even though it had all the clearances from the Centre and the disputes with Maharashtra being resolved for his political gains.

The project report prepared by WAPCO and several other teams of experts gave their nod, he said. So far, nearly Rs. 10,000 crore was spent on the project and also the land acquisition process is over, he added. Ali also stated that the previous UPA Government had almost cleared the processes to declare Pranahita Chevella as a national project. The MoU signed between erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and Maharastra still stand valid, he stated. KCR did not mind giving away seven mandals of Khammam district to Andhra Pradesh for Polavaram project.

But a hue and cry is being raised over loss of 14 villages of Maharashtra due to Pranahita-Chevella, he said. The Pranahita Chevella project is believed to resolve the water scarcity in 16.4 lakh acres in Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad, Medak, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts. Reacting on the allegations of corruption regarding Pranahita project during the Congress regime, Mohammed Ali Shabbir challenged KCR to order a high level probe and punish the guilty.