Politics: TDP submits memorandum to committee

Tue, August 01, 2006; Posted: 4:41:12 am EST

Related Categories: Politics TDP

The Telugu Desam Party on Monday reiterated its stand on the Polavaram (Indirasagar) project that rights of tribals in the Scheduled Areas had to be protected in tune with the Constitutional provisions.

A delegation led by general secretary Kadiam Srihari, S. Maruti, MLA, and secretary B. Ramana Naik submitted a memorandum to P.V. Jayakrishnan, Chairman, Central Empowered Committee constituted by Supreme Court.

The five-member committee returned here after three days of extensive tour in the Scheduled Areas.

He said the TDP was in favour of the project but it was imperative that required clearances be obtained from the Central agencies concerned. The demands included formulation of a liberal Relief and Rehabilitation package in consultation with the affected people and its total implementation before actually taking up construction of the project.

The TDP leaders conveyed to Mr. Jayakrishnan their view that to ensure maximum advantage of the Polavaram project, work on Ichampally project too had to be taken up simultaneously.

Mr. Maruthi stressed the technical aspect that construction of the dam and not excavation of canals had to be taken up first.
Also, he observed that to avoid wastage of public money, one canal on either side of the dam could be excavated instead of having parallel canals for the same ayacut.