Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday lashed out at the BJP government for failing to respond to the State government’s pleas for financial assistance to complete the pending projects. He said the government submitted proposals relating to about 40 projects in the State.
But those at the Centre had no time even to have a look at the proposals. The Centre had been biased against Telangana State, he pointed out. The BJP leaders in the State, instead of protecting the interests of Telangana State and its people, were engaged in spreading falsehood against the TRS government.
The BJP leaders, who often claimed to have committed to the development of Telangana State, were more interested in criticising the government. Harish Rao took part in Haritha Haram programme along with Excise Minister T Padma Rao and Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna in Narasampet in Parkal mandals.
Coming down heavily on the BJP state president G Kishan Reddy, Harish Rao accused him of becoming a “puppet” in the hands of Andhra TDP leaders. Kishan Reddy had failed to defeat the ploy being employed by check the ploys by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu against Telangana irrigation projects.
The Minister sought to know why the BJP leader had failed to question the Centre for not granting national status to Pranahita Chevella project while doling out hundreds of crores of rupees for the execution of Polavaram project being built against the interests of Telangana.
Hitting at the BJP’s padayatra in Telangana districts seeking completion of pending irrigation projects, he said Kishan Reddy and his party leaders should stage a dharna in New Delhi for the welfare of Telangana. It was because of the BJP president’s attitude the party leaders were deserting it, Harish Rao said.
He further said redesigning of some irrigation projects was meant to speed up the works, ensure minimum submergence and to execute the projects in a cost-effective manner. The Congress leaders were blindly opposing redesigning of Thotpally project in Karimnagar.
Forest Minister Ramanna said in the next three years as many as 230 crore saplings would be planted to increase the green cover by 33 per cent in Telangana State while Excise Minister Padma Rao said priority would be given to plant palm and date saplings. MLA Challa Dharma Reddy, District Collector Vakati Karuna, Irrigation Department Superintendent Engineer V Padma Rao and TRS leaders were present.
Source: The Hans India