The Telangana Legislative Assembly today witnessed a debate between the TRS government and the main opposition Congress over construction of irrigation projects in the state.
Congress member T Jeevan Reddy, who participated in a Budget discussion, referred to allegation by ruling TRS that the main opposition party is creating hurdles in construction of irrigation projects by "dragging the matter to courts".
Asking if standing by those who would be displaced due to irrigation projects is wrong, he wondered whether the ruling side found fault with the courts also.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had also spoken for displaced persons on an earlier occasion before coming to power, he said.
The state government should try to get national status for a major irrigation project like Kaleswaram project (previously known as Pranahita-Chevella project) as the Centre would bear 90 per cent of its cost, Reddy said.
BJP member NVSS Prabhakar alleged that the state government could not spend the entire allocation though fund to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore was allocated for irrigation.
Countering the Congress member, Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao alleged that petitions were filed in courts, in the name of deceased persons as well, to create hurdles in the way of irrigation projects.
The Minister's statement that the government provided irrigation facility to over six lakh acres was contested by Congress members, with Leader of Opposition (Congress) K Jana Reddy saying that the previous Congress government had completed substantial portion of construction of irrigation projects.
Rao listed several projects and the efforts made by the government for their early completion.
Recalling Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's comments, the irrigation minister said the government would make efforts to get national status for an irrigation project, and lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to press the demand.
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