Why abide by SC interim order on Babli: Chiru

Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi on Tuesday expressed his dissatisfaction over the outcome of tripartite meeting convened by the Centre at New Delhi on Babli issue.

Talking to media persons at his party office, he said the delay in solving the row over the sharing of river waters is harming the interests of farmers of the state, particularly those of the Telangana region.

Mr Chiranjeevi also questioned the need for the state government to abide by the interim orders of the Supreme Court when the Maharashtra government had already violated the orders and started constructing crest gates on river Godavari as part of the Babli Irrigation Project.

He said that the all-party delegation had urged the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the issue in hopes of finding a solution to the issue.

The PRP chief expressed sadness that even the involvement of the Prime Minister in the issue has failed to address the problem. Mr Chiranjeevi demanded that Chief Minister K Rosaiah explain to the people of state and all-party leaders what was transpired during the inter-state river water meeting immediately.

On the government move of passing of GO No 723, which permits setting of bars based on the population of the state, he said the government should give first priority to education, healthcare facilities and providing basic amenities for people. Without providing basic amenities and healthcare facilities, what is the use in setting up of bar?, he wondered.