TRS blames samuel and pals for flood

oct 12th, 2009

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From: Shahryar

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/65330/LATEST%20NEWS/Telangana+party+blames+YSR's+pet+projects+for+flood.html TRS blames YSR for flood New Delhi October 8, 2009 The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief, K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), on Wednesday alleged that the floods in Andhra Pradesh were caused because of the "illegal" irrigation projects launched by the Congress regime under late YSR Reddy. Rao demanded a judicial probe into the construction of these projects and a CBI inquiry into YSR's 'Jalayagnam' project, which he said "reeks of corruption". The TRS chief, however, appeared keen to mend fences with the Congress high command. He showered lavish praises on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the present Chief Minister, K. Rosaiah. The PM and Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy are slated to leave for Andhra and Karnataka on Friday to conduct an aerial survey of the devastation caused by the floods. Addressing a press conference in the Capital, Rao said over 100 people lost their lives and the state lost Rs one lakh crore with the destruction of property and crops in the floods only because of the corruption in the construction of dams and reservoirs. He said he would furnish the details to the PM with a request for a CBI probe into these projects. "The EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract system introduced in the Jalayagnam project was another fraud to favour the contractors of his (YSR's) choice. It allowed them to loot the state exchequer," he alleged. Apart from the PM and Sonia, Rao threatened to write to the Chief Justice of India, the chief justices of high courts, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Rajya Sabha chairman, all chief ministers, governors, speakers of state Assemblies, the National Human Rights Commissions and the state human rights commissions in this regard to make a case for a CBI inquiry. He warned that he would even take the issue to the Amnesty International, all reputed NGOs and environmental experts. Though the water in the Srisailam reservoir reached the 885-ft level by September-end, the government did not release water to the Nagarjuna Sagar project for irrigation.  Rao alleged this was because the government intended to divert the water for irrigation projects in Rayalaseema region, a stronghold of the YSR family, despite warning by experts. The Central Water Commission had twice advised the YSR government to increase the spillway capacity of the Srisailam reservoir on the Krishna river from 13.5 lakh cusecs to 25 lakh cusecs.  Had the government listened to the advice, Kurnool and many upstream areas could have been saved from being inundated, he said. "The flood was 95 per cent man-made and only five per cent because of natural fury. The real reason lies in the irresponsible, erratic and illegal construction of dams and reservoirs and politically motivated irrigation policies of the government," he said. The TRS chief, however, showered lavish praises on the Prime Minister and Sonia. The party was a UPA ally till Rao parted company with the Congress in 2008 on the issue of Telangana statehood. But the gamble failed and his party was reduced from four to two seats in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year. Eulogising Sonia, Rao said: "I made a special request to Sonia Gandhi for Telangana. She did not deliver, but she expressed some good words. I believe she is a kind-hearted person. I urge her to come to the rescue of the people of Andhra Pradesh. People are looking at you. Please come forward with greatness and save Andhra." "She knows what is trauma. When she lost her brother-in-law (Sanjay Gandhi), mother-in-law, and her husband Rajiv ji, she underwent a lot of trauma. The same trauma is now being faced by the people of Andhra. "Sonia ji , I appeal to you to cut the barriers of trivial issues, you are a great lady of history like Indira Gandhi." The TRS chief also lavished sky-high praise on the PM. "He is the most honest man in this country who never tolerates injustice. He should initiate a CBI probe into the Jalayagnam project." He called Rosaiah a "tall political personality without a single blemish". Rao said at the end of his long political carrier, he has got an opportunity to "rise to the level of Mahatma Gandhi". Courtesy: Mail Today