Backwardness being politicised: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MAY 25. The Chief Minister, Mr.N.Chandrababu Naidu, has expressed anguish over attempts to whip up regional sentiments for political ends when his Government was making ``untiring efforts'' to develop all the backward areas of the State, especially Telangana. He said the issue of backwardness ``is being politicised.''

The Chief Minister told reporters that Swarnandhra Pradesh was possible only when the State remained united. He was, however, not prepared to join issue with the protagonists of a separate State for Telangana nor would he react emotionally to the provocative speeches being made by them.

``We will exercise utmost restraint and keep doing our job. I am confident the people will not be misled by such campaign (for separate State),'' he said, striking an optimistic note. The TDP president said Telangana was backward for ``historical'' reasons and it had not come about overnight. There could be no overnight solution to the problem. But his Government had made sustained efforts for the past five years, which had begun to yield results. Special attention was bestowed on irrigation projects.

Mr.Naidu said about Rs. 900 crores was spent on SRSP phase II and another Rs. 500 crores was being made available to extend the SRSP canals to the Warangal area. It would help bring in an additional 9.25 lakhs acres ``within three years.''

The Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) was launched by the TDP Government and water from the project would be released by August next. It would benefit 1.35 lakhs acres in Nalgonda district. As promised, a backward areas committee would also be set up. A special drive had been launched for promoting literacy and the backward areas would stand to benefit.

Advantages of united State

If issues were politicised, it would lead to distraction of the developmental effort. Listing out the advantages of an integrated State, he said that important ports were available in one region while Hyderabad was emerging an international city with an international airport. The natural gas available in the State would be equitably distributed to all the areas.

Mr.Naidu opined that even the strength of MPs in the integrated State mattered in lobbying with the Centre for additional facilities and services to the State. With a strength of 29 Lok Sabha and 12 Rajya Sabha members, the TDP could bring pressure on the Centre to enhance rice procurement by the FCI to 70 lakh tonnes this year.

The Chief Minister denied the ``propaganda'' in certain circles that valuable assets in Telangana were being disposed of to private parties. He said privatisation of the loss-making public sector undertakings was part of the economic reforms, which were being implemented in every State and not just AP. It was being done in a systematic way to prevent closure of PSUs.

Asked whether the Mahanadu would give a political direction to the party unit to effectively counter the campaign for separate State, he said educating people was a continuous process. It was better to leave certain issues to the wisdom of the people. The Government had been working for the past six years and AP emerged as a model in many fields. Even several Congress Chief Ministers were complimenting the innovative practices and schemes here.

About the controversy over the Pulichintala project, he said that he had called an all-party meeting on May 31 wherein all doubts would be cleared. The criticism against the project was ill- informed. Pulichintala would help save 30 to 35 tmc ft of assured Krishna waters, which could be utilised for projects in backward regions. The Bhima project in Telangana would get additional 20 tmc ft of water.

Mr.Naidu said 10,361 acres of village lands in Nalgonda and 7218 acres in Guntur would be submerged by the project. Besides, 4484 acres of forest area in Guntur and 7560 acres in Nalgonda would be submerged. The Government would seek the suggestions of all the parties.

The Chief Minister said the Government would react positively to any specific cases of injustice in the region but would leave it to the wisdom of the people if issues were politicised.

About the Mahanadu agenda, he said the deliberations would be devoted to certain basic issues concerning people like water, irrigation, tree plantation, population control, literacy and regional disparities. It would be another milestone in the party's history as an action plan for the calendar year would be drawn to enable party functionaries to work as agents of change.

The TDP president said a holistic approach had been adopted for conservation of water, a national wealth. Future wars between States and nations were likely to be fought over water.

Additional 10 lakh acres would be brought under irrigation with an expenditure of Rs. 2000 crores. Temples and other religious institutions would be involved in tree plantation.

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Section  : Southern States
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