Srisailam generates intense heat - TeluguPeople.com News

Hyderabad: The ongoing war of words between the ruling TRS and the TDP over the advisability of continued power generation at Srisailam regardless of water levels took an ugly turn on Saturday with leaders of both parties breathing fire and brimstone and indulging in verbal fusillade.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi continued its tirade against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for making false claims on the Srisailam project.

Information Technology and Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao said Srisailam project was built for production of power and not primarily for irrigation as claimed by Naidu. He said GO No 69 was released in 1989 by Naidu himself and now, he was violating the same GO. The GO, KTR said, says that power production could be taken up at Srisailam project by depleting water level up to 834 ft, which was being opposed by Naidu now.

He also condemned the hostile attitude of Naidu for trying to prevent power production, which was a plot against Telangana. 'The Naidu Government cannot do so as the project is purely meant for power production,' he reiterated. He said AP Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao would have to step down if he kept his words. He must be ready to become a former minister, KTR said.

Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao said that power was being produced at Srisailam only to prevent the drying up of crops in Telangana. There was no meaning in the claim of Naidu that water level in Srisailam was going down and therefore priority should be given for drinking and irrigation purposes.

The Minister explained that with 800 MW power generated at Srisailam his government was able to provide power for five to six hours to farmers. It would not be possible for the government to ensure even four hours' power supply should production be stopped at Srisailam. The same was conveyed to the Krishna Board by way of reply to its letter.

KCR TALK A BUNDLE OF LIES
Reacting furiously to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao's tirade against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, TDP legislator A Revanth Reddy called KCR a 'liar' and suggested that the Chief Minister's statements were nothing but a tissue of lies. The power crisis in the State was a consequence of KCR's smart-alecky behavior and his vengeful activities.

Describing KCR as 'Shani' for Telangana, Revanth warned that the projects on anvil in TS could not be completed even after 40 years if KCR failed to mend his ways. In striking contrast, Andhra Pradesh had foresight and hence bought 900 MW in advance to obviate power shortage.

In the context, Revanth advised KCR to determine for himself how the 54 per cent of power was given. The TDP legislator ridiculed that though KCR wanted to tell sheer lies as part of his subterfuge, he had failed miserably in executing his plan.

Hence, KCR was trying to instigate farmers, Revanth asserted. Demanding that the government should hold an all-party meeting on power, Revanth said that their party's bus tour was intended to instil confidence among farmers.

Telugu Desam Party leader and AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu's son N Lokesh said that KCR was criticising Naidu because as CM he had failed to solve even basic issues.

He pointed out that before the elections KCR had boasted that power crisis would be solved in three months, but backtracked later and was now saying that it would take at least three years. Poking fun at TS CM, the Telugu Desam leader said that after some time KCR might even blame people for the problems.