TRS moves privilege motion against AP CM

TRS today moved a privilege motion in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly against the Chief Minister for "misleading the House" and going back on his word by opposing the draft AP Re-organisation Bill-2013 that provides for the creation of a separate state of Telangana.

TRS MLA K T Rama Rao moved the motion as the AP Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy rose to continue his speech on the draft Bill today afternoon.

Recalling AP Chief Minister's statement on the floor of the House on February 20, 2011, that he would implement the Government of India's decision on the bifurcation issue, Rama Rao alleged that the chief minister has gone back on his promise.

"The Chief Minister repeatedly told this House that the bifurcation issue has to be decided by the Centre and that he would implement the decision, whatever it be. But, he has now openly opposed the draft Bill that provides for creation of a Telangana state. This amounts to misleading the House," TRS member said and moved a privilege motion against the AP Chief Minister.

Rama Rao also took exception to the AP CM quoting from the speeches of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and some other MPs in Parliament.

"As per rules of the House, the Chief Minister can't quote from the Parliament's records without issuing a notice. This is a violation of rules," he said.

The AP CM continued his address and reiterated that the Telangana region would suffer the most if Andhra Pradesh is bifurcated.

"Telangana will become an upper riparian state and will have to forego a large share of river water. Currently, irrigation projects worth Rs 12,700 crore are underway in Telangana in the Krishna Basin. These projects, particularly those in Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts, will go waste," AP CM Kiran Kumar said.

When people from the Seemaandhra region did not object to construction of the Pranahita-Chevella project, why are people in Telangana opposing the multi-purpose Polavaram major irrigation project on the river Godavari, Reddy questioned.

Referring to power, the AP CM said that 175 million units would be required for lift irrigation schemes alone in the Telangana region during the coming four years, for which and investment of Rs 40,000 crore would be required.

"There are no coal or gas linkages. How will power be produced and where will such massive investment come from if the state is bifurcated," he asked.

Power shortage as a whole in the Telangana region would increase to 50 per cent in the event of bifurcation, he said.

A whopping Rs 60,000 crore is required to complete various ongoing irrigation projects in Telangana, he said, adding unless the state remains united, we can't complete these projects and do good to farmers.

The AP CM also refuted claims of Telangana leaders that all coal from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd was being supplied to power projects in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

"Not a single tonne of coal from Singareni is coming to coastal Andhra. Rayalaseema gets 38 lakh tonnes per annum, while power plants in Telangana get about 185 lakh tonnes. About 57 per cent of coal generated in Singareni is being used in Telangana region alone. Coal allocation is made by the Centre," the AP CM said.

The CM's address remained inconclusive since the House was adjourned for the day after it was reported that the deadline to return the draft Bill has been extended till January 30.