The Bill on setting up Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project got Parliament’s nod on Monday but the debate on saw a divided Congress in the Rajya Sabha.
The Rs Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill’ was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote after getting cleared from the lok Sabha last week. On Monday the Congress remained silent during the voice vote even though leader of the House Ghulam Nabi Azad clarified in the beginning his party was supporting the Bill. The Bill seeks to transfer seven mandals from Telangana to Andhra for enabling the construction of the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project. Out of these seven, six mandals in full and two in part of Khammam district will go to Andhra. This is to provide flexibility to the Andhra Government to implement the rehabilitation and resettlement package of the Polavaram project. It will also provide contiguity in the areas that form a part of Andhra for administrative convenience.
But even as some Congress leaders from Andhra took credit for the project, its own MPs from Telangana differed and protested because the project involves relocation of about 50,000 families from Khammam, East Godavari and West Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh, besides 2,000 families in Odisha and 1,000 Chhattisgarh.
Congress MPs from Telangana Hanumatha Rao, Renuka Chowdhury, Ananda Bhaskar Rapulo, Palvai Govardhan Reddy strongly opposed the Bill even as Congress members and former Union Ministers Jairam Ramesh and Chiranjeevi supported it while stressing upon adequate compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected people under the new land Acquisition Act.
“This is an important commitment made by the erstwhile UPA Government which has been continued by the present Government. The continuity in policy reflects democratic politics,” Ramesh said. On being interrupted by his party colleagues Ramesh said: “I do not need sermons from my colleagues from Telangana. This decision was taken in difficult circumstances. Please remember, the issue of Hyderabad was a litmus test for Telangana. For Andhra Pradesh, this project is an emotional issue.”
Chiranjeevi added: “The fact is that some misinformation campaigns are being carried out to stall the project for petty political gains. This is very unfortunate.”
But Congress MPs from Telangana claimed Ramesh had not consulted local MPs while studying the project. “Our Jairam Ramesh says that he has met everyone but we don’t know in which village and where. He goes to every district but does not inform the MPs. I am speaking with an open heart. “He is our MP, our minister but he does not call anyone, works alone and submits his report,” said V Hanumantha Rao.
On Hanumantha Rao disrupting Ramesh, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha KJ Kurien quipped: “What is thisIJ Congressmen troubling Congressmen! Why are you disruptingIJ Your own member is speaking.” While replying to the debate Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the House that his government will consider the rehabilitation and resettlement issue seeking to allay concerns of members regarding submergence of certain areas in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
later, Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress has been exposed in Rajya Sabha when its members opposed Ramesh.