Speaking to the media after the meeting, TDP leaders Errabelly Dayakar Rao and Kadiam Srihari said the Chief Minister was keen on filing a review petition in the Supreme Court on the Babli project. They said the Chief Minister had reportedly told the meeting that he was ready for legal battle on the “illegal” Babli project after seeking advice from legal luminaries on the subject.
The TDP leaders said Kiran Kumar Reddy had agreed to call for another all-party meeting again after eliciting views of the Opposition parties. The Opposition parties demanded that the Chief Minister ensure that the Three-member committee constituted by the Union government worked under the direct supervision of the Centre. They specifically told the Chief Minister that the Three-member committee should not function from Maharashtra. The Opposition leaders reportedly told the Chief Minister that there were no instances that mini-projects are built under the big projects like the Babli project. They said the Chief Minister was visibly convinced by their argument.
The TDP leaders asked the Chief Minister to lead the all-party delegation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He strongly felt that the Supreme Court had upheld the Maharashtra argument over the Babli project recently due to the failure of the Andhra Pradesh government to conduct cogent and convincing argument on the State’s rights over the river water and bring home the guilt of the neighboring State. He also lashed out at the Maharashtra government for illegally utilizing 100 TMC water as against its legitimate share of 60 TMC in violation of the Tribunal Accord.
CPM legislator Julakanti Ranga Reddy has suggested to the Chief Minister to strive for a political solution even while continuing the legal battle.
PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana told the Opposition leaders that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government was not keeping its eyes shut towards the issues. He said barring one or a half assurances made on the eve of 2009 elections, the present government had not only fulfilled all the poll promises, but also conceived and implemented new programs for the benefit of the poor and weaker sections. Botcha also called upon the party cadre to get ready for the ensuing local bodies elections. He also claimed that some extra-manifesto schemes were being implemented for good of the people.
