Govt. urged to review tourism projects around Hussainsagar

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, JAN. 4. The CPI State secretary, Mr.Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, has urged the State Governemnt to review the tourism projects around the Hussainsagar in the city in view of the A.P. High Court order directing the Government to maintain status quo ante near all the water bodies in the State.

Instead of standing on false prestige, the Government should make public all its plans on the projects and arrange a thorough discussion on them involving all the political parties, environmentalists and NGOs, he suggested in a statement.

Mr.Reddy said the Government's credibility to a large extent was eroded in this matter. It owed an explanation for permitting a highly polluting industry like Surana Oils and derivatives Ltd. close to Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, which are major sources of drinking water to the city. The court judgement had shown the Government in poor light. Safe drinking water is the fundamental right of the people,he said.

The CPI leader said tourism projects around the Hussainsagar were being kept a secret like defence projects, thereby giving room for suspicion of foul play. Even the mandatory Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies were not conducted on these projects. The Government itself was violating HUDA and Master Plan regulations, he said.

Arrests in connection with Janmabhoomi deplored

The CPI State executive in a separate press release condemned the "police excesses" on the activists of the Left parties and the Congress(I) who tried to draw the attention of the public representatives and officials to the farmers' problems during the Janmabhoomi programme.

The party alleged that the democratic activities of the Opposition parties are being crushed with the might of the police. It alleged that the Chief Minister launched propaganda against the Opposition parties that they were obstructing Janmabhoomi Sabhas while the motive of the Opposition stir was to highlight the need for remunerative prices to farmers.

The CPI press release cited the police attacks on the party workers at Santhanuthalapadu in Prakasam, Krishnagiri, Dhone and Yemmiganur in Kurnool district, and other places in Cuddapah and Anantapur districts. Hundreds of party workers were arrested and the TDP activists had joined the police in these attacks, the release added.

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Section  : Southern States
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