House functions smoothly at last

The Question Hour was finally taken up in the state Assembly on Saturday, 14 days after the Budget Session commenced even as Congress and Telugu Desam Party Legislators from Telangana districts continued their boycott of the House demanding a separate state while their counterparts from Seemandhra region were present.

Though the Budget Session had commenced on February 17, it could take up the scheduled Question Hour only on Saturday and that too after a walk-out staged by the main opposition TDP and the CPM Members.

The TDP Members from the Krishna district and CPM Legislators walked out dissatisfied over a reply on power-cuts. The TDP and CPM stated that the consumers and the farmers were subjected to hardships over the irregular power supply.

The CPM Members sought to know when the 9-hour supply would be given to agriculturists.

Clarifying on the point, the IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah told them that power-cuts were not imposed and if there was any information on irregular electricity supply, the Members were asked to furnish them for effecting corrective measures. Not finding the reply satisfactory, the Members walked out of the House in protest.

Soon as the Question Hour, began the CPM Members demanded Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar allow an Adjournment Motion for a discussion on attacks on women including on murder of engineering student Krishnaveni in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

In reply Mr Manohar said that he would facilitate a discussion on the subject after the Question Hour.

Following the TDP and CPM’s insistence for a statement on police firing in Srikakulam district, Home Minister P Sabitha Reddy did so, giving a clean chit to the police.

She informed that 700 hundred locals on February 28, around 12 noon armed with sticks tried to attack the police who resorted to retaliatory fire, after warning them sufficiently. Two people Jeeru Nageshwar Rao and Seerapu Yerriah succumbed to the firing, with the former dying on the spot and latter died at home.

Reacting to her reply, TDP MLA Dhulipalla Narender said it was painful and asked how far was it reasonable to allow development in the area victimizing the poor and shielding the private investors that too after creating a violent situation. He asked whether it was correct to fire at the innocent locals in a democratic set-up and invite the setting up of a thermal power station in the village.

It was unjust he said, and told the House that the government should own the responsibility for the two deaths in the firing.

The TDP MLA demanded that the government expose the investors East Coast Energy Private Limited involved in the 2640 MW power project.

The Home Minister clarified that the police had resorted to firing only to bring the situation under control. On the other hand, she found fault with the locals for disregarding the police warning.

Commenting on the statement, Lok Satta Party MLA Jayaprakash Narayan demanded that Land Ceiling Act be amended and called for setting up a legal independent body to coordinate with locals and to check permissions to private investors.

What was the district administration doing when villagers protested opposing the project which led to a firing on the innocent locals, Dr Narayan asked.