Opposition's Medak bandh was a flop: Harish Rao

Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao has described the 'Medak Bandh' called by opposition parties as flop.

Addressing a press conference at TRS Legislature Party office here on Monday, Harish Rao said that the office, shops, business establishment and educational institutions functioned normally. He accused the opposition parties - Congress, TDP, BJP and CPM of inciting local farmers. He alleged that police was forced to lathi-charge after some miscreants pelted stones on cops.

Harish Rao alleged that some 'outsiders' were involved in inciting the violence. He said the opposition parties were misguiding the innocent farmers. He said that people behind the conspiracy would be exposed soon. He said farmers in six out of eight villages have already agreed to part with the lands for Mallanna Sagar project. He said efforts were being made to convince the farmers to remaining two villages.

The minister dismissed the allegations of forcible land acquisition and said that the State Government has agreed to pay compensation as per Land Acquisition Act, 2013 or GO. MS.NO.123. He described the compensation package as unprecedented.

He said that the Telangana Government wants effective utilisation of Godavari River water which was going waste into the sea. He said Telangana State was formed on the slogan of proper share in river water. Hence, he said that the government came up with different irrigation projects. Further, he said Mallanna Sagar could not be compared with Jawaharlal Nehru Project of Harayana. He said JLN project has a perennial source of water and therefore, no reservoir was required. But a big reservoir was need in Mallana Sagar to store water.

Harish Rao asked the opposition parties not to cause obstruction in execution of irrigation projects in the State.