Another TS, AP water row erupts
TAKES
Yet another water row has erupted between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The Telangana state government took a serious view of the AP government launching works to construct a canal at Rajolibanda village in Kurnool district, in parallel to the existing Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS) to draw additional water without obtaining any approvals from various government agencies. This will deny Telangana its rightful share and adversely affect the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district.
Public representatives and farmers of Gadwal and Mahabubnagar districts complained to Chief Minister
K. Chandrashekar Rao that the AP government had started making markings to dig a canal on the right side of the RDS.
Official sources in the irrigation department said that Rao discussed the issue with officials on Tuesday and directed them to lodge a complaint with the Krishna River Management Board, the Central Water Commission
and the Apex Council of the Union ministry of Jal Shakti against the AP government and ensure that Andhra Pradesh suspends these works.
Though TS is supposed to get 16 tmc ft of water through the RDS, it is getting less than five tmc currently due to leakages.
The construction began during the reign of the sixth Nizam Mahaboob Ali Khan in 1905 and was completed in December 1913. A new building was built in 1980 in order to accommodate the legislative offices of ministers and political parties.
As the building was becoming older and posing an existential threat, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar decided to construct a new Assembly at Errum Manzil, at a cost of `100 crore. He even laid the foundation stone for its construction in June 2019, along with a new
Secretariat complex.
However, several petitions were filed in the High Court against the demolition of the 150year-old Errum Manzil to pave the way for constructing a new assembly building.
Heritage lovers also went to court against the demolition of the secretariat. While the High Court cleared the demolition of the secretariat, it issued stay orders on the demolition of Errum Manzil in September
2019, which are still in force. Due to this, the government could not start construction works for a new assembly building so far.
An employee of the Food Corporation of India thanked and appreciated the Police Commissioner of Rachakonda, Mahesh Bhagwat, for swiftly arresting the interstate property offenders and recovering stolen material worth `25 lakh.
B. Swayam Prabha, an employee of the Food Corporation of India, met the Police Commissioner and thanked him on Tuesday. She expressed her gratitude to the Nacharam police and the Central Crime Station police for their efforts in solving the case.
It was in December last year that Swayam Prabha’s house at Habsiguda in Nacharam was burgled by a three-member gang that stole cash, diamond and gold ornaments.
The sleuths of CCS Malkajgiri along with Nacharam Police of Rachakonda arrested Mohd Sabdar, 25 and Mohd Ayub, 58, at the pot market in Secunderabad and recovered stolen loot worth `26 lakh from them.
“They used to roam around residential areas to target and burgle houses. They confessed to committing offences in three places and were placed under arrest in due time,” police said.
IT WAS in December last year that Swayam Prabha’s house at Habsiguda in Nacharam was burgled by a three-member gang that stole cash, diamond and gold ornaments.
State government has postponed laying of the foundation stone for re-constructing the mosque in premises of old secretariat complex. The stone was scheduled to be laid on Friday, but has been put off owing to Model Code of Conduct in place because of MLC polls.
Home minister Mahmood Ali, however, reiterated that the state government will established the new masjid at the same place it stood when the entire secretariat complex was demolished to establish a new one. A new date for laying the foundation will be announced after MLC elections in consultation with religious scholars.
The minister said a Hindu temple and a church will also be constructed within the secretariat complex for convenience of employees as well as visitors coming to the secretariat. “Our Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao respects all religions,” he added.