Krishna water row, funds for Polavaram on YSRCP agenda

Amaravati: The YSRCP parliamentary party is going to press for approval of Rs 55,656 crore revised estimated cost of Polavaram project, which has been pending with the Centre for the past 29 months. The YSRCP MPs will demand for release of Rs 33,000 crore towards relief and rehabilitation of Polavaram evacuees.

Apart from this, ongoing dispute with Telangana over river Krishna waters and implementation of promises made to the state under the AP Reorganisation Act are the issues that the party will raise in the ensuing monsoon session of Parliament.

The YSRCP will also reiterate the demand for grant of special category status to Andhra Pradesh as per the promise made in Parliament. Ahead of the Parliament session beginning on July 19, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy held a meeting with his party MPs to discuss the strategy to be adopted and the issues to be raised. Talking to reporters at the end of the meeting, YSRCP Parliamentary Party leader V Vijayasai Reddy said they would raise the issue of illicit utilisation of Krishna water by the neighbouring Telangana government for power generation, depriving AP of water for irrigation and drinking needs.

The state has already filed a petition in the Supreme Court on the issue.

"We will raise the illegal projects being constructed on River Krishna by Telangana. We will also demand that the Centre immediately notify the jurisdiction of Krishna River Management Board (KRMP)," Vijayasai said. Referring to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the Rajya Sabha member said the YSRCP was strongly opposed to its privatization.

"We have already suggested various alternatives for turning the VSP around, instead of selling away the government stake. We will ask the Centre to take back its decision to divest its stake in VSP," the YSRCP leader said.

He said the Telangana government owed over Rs 6,100 crore in the form of electricity charges. The Centre's intervention would be sought to prevail upon Telangana to clear the dues forthwith.

Vijayasai maintained that they would not compromise on the issue of securing Special Category Status to the state.

"We have raised the issue with the Centre at least a dozen times so far and we will continue to raise it. Also, all promises made to AP under the Reorganisation Act, 2014, have to be fulfilled," he added.

The Rajya Sabha member said the Central government was yet to approve the revised cost estimates, amounting to over Rs 55,000 crore, for the Polavaram project.

"This has been pending for over 29 months now. We will ask the Centre to do this expeditiously and also clear pending dues related to the project," he added.

YSRCP leader in Lok Sabha P Mithun Reddy said they would request the Centre to clear the Disha Bill passed by the state Legislature, aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women and children.

"We will raise several other issues related to the state," he said.