Saturday, May 21, 2022

AP actions go against NGT order, says Jagadish Reddy

By Telangana Today

Published: Published Date - 11:19 PM, Fri - 25 June 21

Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy addressing the media at the TRSLP office in Hyderabad on Friday. Demands neighbouring State to stop illegal construction of RLIS and RDS right canal

Hyderabad: Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy on Friday demanded the Andhra Pradesh government immediately stop the illegal construction of the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme and the RDS right canal.

The Minister pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had issued a stay against these projects and the actions of the AP government are nothing short of contempt of court. “The AP government has given it in writing stating that it had taken up only surveying for the project and would commence works only after obtaining all permissions. But now, it took up the works without valid permissions which is nothing short of betraying people of Telangana and would be seen as an attempt to turn Telangana into a desert,” he stated.

Jagadish stated that the TRS government is making optimum use of its share of waters in both the Godavari and Krishna rivers by completing the projects after obtaining all permissions. People are aware how more than one crore acres were brought under cultivation after the State formation, he said and advised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy to take up projects only after obtaining necessary permissions from the relevant authorities. He invited Jagan to come for talks with the Telangana government by stopping the ongoing illegal works.

Tourism Minister V Srinivas Goud, who is in Delhi pitching for the UNSECO heritage tag for Ramappa temple, also lambasted the Andhra Pradesh government. He alleged that former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had done injustice to the Telangana region during his regime and forced people of the Palamuru region to migrate to other States for livelihood. “YSR did not even provide drinking water to quench the thirst of the people of this region, forcing many people to drink water with high fluoride content, and ruined many lives. His son and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy is causing even greater injustice to the people of Telangana,” he said.

Srinivas Goud alleged that people who fought for separate Telangana were branded as Maoists and arrested besides causing them to suffer psychologically during the YSR regime. He said mobilisation advances were sanctioned to the Andhra contractors for projects proposed in Telangana, without even taking up any works. “We cannot forget the injustice done to the people of Telangana in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, especially during the tenure of YSR. Any attempts by the Jaganmohan Reddy government to deprive us of our rightful share in river water will be resisted through the right channels,” he added.