BJP dares government to order judicial probe

Hyderabad: BJP leader Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy dared the TRS leadership to appoint a judicial commission to evaluate the estimates of the ongoing irrigation projects in the State. Addressing media here on Wednesday, Sudhakar Reddy said, "several TRS leaders are making baseless accusations against State BJP chief Dr K Laxman and the party for saying the party would fight against the irregularities and allegations of corruption in the irrigation projects in Telangana."

As an opposition party, BJP has the right to fight against allegations and violations with regard to the expenditure of the public money. "Why are the TRS leaders so perturbed? If there are no wrongdoings then let them appoint a judicial commission on the lines of the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to get to bottom of the facts," he added.

He said the neighbouring State had taken the initiative to find out whether there are any irregularities in the construction of the irrigation projects. There cannot be different rules for different States. "BJP demands the appointment of a judicial commission to find out whether there are any deviations and irregularities in the tender process and violations in the tender procedures. Also, to figure out if retendering is needed for the ongoing projects in Telangana," he added.

The BJP leader also demanded Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao to call for an all-party meeting on the proposed mega project between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, to lift 300 tmc ft of water from the Godavari river to the Krishna basin with an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.

He said the State has been created on the three issues of 'water, funds and jobs. It is the responsibility of the State government to disclose all the details regarding the project, including the water availability, water share of the State and inter-State disputes between the two States.

"BJP welcomes cooperation and cordial relations between TS and AP and both the Telugu States should develop. But, at the same time, increase of height of the Polavaram Lift Irrigation Project (PLIS) is posing a problem for the Bhadrachalam. To discuss all these issues the State government should take into confidence all the stakeholder as it is not a private or political issue between the two CM's, he pointed out.

Reddy also demanded the CM to release a white paper on the steps taken for implementing a Contingency Agriculture Plan (CAP), as the agriculture sector in the State is reeling under distress due to the deficit rainfall.

Adding to the troubles of the farmers, while banks are not extending loans, "The State government has failed to contain the sale of spurious seeds in districts like Gadwal, Mahabubabad and the filing of cases under the PD Act against traders and distributors of the spurious seeds have no effect," he said.

He also demanded to know the disbursal of the funds under Rythu Bandhu and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman (PMKS) and steps were taken on thousands of acres of lands being cultivated by the non-tribals in the tribal areas in the State, depriving tribals their rights under the Forest Rights Act.