KK hails Jaram's comments on Polavaram

Senior Congress leader K Keshav Rao on Sunday hailed Union Minister for Environment and Forestry Jairam Ramesh comments that the Polavaram irrigation project would not be accepted unless resettlement and rehabilitation works are taken up simultaneously with the construction of the dam.

Talking to media persons at his residence in Banjara Hills, the former Congress Working Committee member said the Union Minister had rightly pointed out that resettlement of project victims should be taken up simultaneously along with the construction of the dam.

Mr Keshav Rao said that Mr Jairam Ramesh had stated about 1,70,000 people living in four villages of Orissa and parts of Chhattisgarh should be rehabilitated. “The respective government should conduct a public hearing and ensure that a consensus is reached on the rehabilitation issue,” he pointed out.

Mr Keshav Rao said that he has confidence that the Congress High Command would announce a clear decision on Telangana formation after elections to the Assemblies of five states.

Reacting on Andhra Pradesh In-Charge for Party Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad calling MPs from the state for meetings on March 22 and March 23, the senior leader stated that he would attend the meeting to express his views on Telangana. 

Reacting on a section of Congress leaders resorting to cross voting during Legislative Council elections, Mr Keshav Rao said the Pradesh Congress Committee will initiate serious disciplinary action against those leaders for their anti-party activities.

Responding to alleged violation of rules in the allotment of lands for various Special Economic Zones in the state, the senior Congress leader stated matters continue like this, the day will not be far off when the entire state is sold to the Special Economic Zones.