Leader of Opposition in Telangana State Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir blamed the inefficiency and inexperience of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for the havoc created due to heavy rains across the State, especially Hyderabad.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Legislature Party office on Monday, Shabbir Ali ridiculed the Chief Minister’s contention that rains did not cause much damage. Asking KCR to tour the affected areas, he said that the Chief Minister was trying to downplay the tragedy to avoid facing further criticism. Welcoming the decision of State Government to demolish illegal structures constructed on nalas, he expressed serious doubts over the Chief Minister implementing this decision. So far, he said at least eight demolition drives were announced by the Chief Minister and each time, the drive was silently put off for reasons known only to KCR. “What happened to the illegal constructions in Ayyappa Society? Why the issue of N-Convention Centre was ignored?” he asked.
Shabbir Ali slammed KCR for targeting the previous Congress Government for illegal constructions in the city. “You are in power for the last 27 months and what prevented you from demolishing those illegal structures. There are thousands of houses on nalas and catchments areas which TRS Government regularised under GO 58 and 59. Why you did not speak about these 28,000 illegal houses before GHMC elections?” he asked.
The Congress leader said that the previous Congress Government never allowed illegal constructions and demolition drives were effectively implemented periodically. He said that the city never faced problems of water logging or stagnation during Congress regime. He said that the State Government used to take up desiltation of nalas, strengthening of storm water drains and other measures before every monsoon. However, the present government has failed to implement Monsoon Action Plan. “During Congress rule, the State Government itself developed Hyderabad by spending Rs. 1 lakh crore. But the TRS Government gave away GHMC funds to RTC leaving no funds for the civic body to carry out desiltation and other works,” he said.
Shabbir Ali said that the Chief Minister and his son K. Tarakrama Rao (Municipal Administration Minister) should stop spreading falsehood. He said the father-son duo had cheated the people of Hyderabad with the promise of turning it into Dallas or Istanbul. People will be thankful if they restore the sameHyderabad as it existed during Congress regime. He said as the then incharge Minister, he had contributed in developing Hyderabad and the city was turned into a “Must See Destination.” He asked the government to issue a White Paper on funds spent for development of Hyderabad.
He said all the irrigations projects where TRS Government is now planning celebrations were constructed during Congress regime. Nizamsagar, Singur, Lower Maniar, Upper Maniar, Mid-Maniar, Ali Sagar, Guthpa on Godavari Basin and Jurala and Srisailam on Krishna were all constructed during Congress period. Due to recent rains, all the projects are now filled to their capacity and this would facilitate irrigation on about 45 lakh acres of lands across the State. “TRS Government’s projects like Mallanna Sagar or Kaleshwaram are only on paper while the Congress projects are fully active and benefitting lakhs of farmers,” he said.
He also alleged that the Mission Kakatiya works were faulty and nearly 70% of lakes, which the TRS Government claims to have restored, are reporting leakages.
Shabbir Ali said that KCR should learn to handle criticism. “Is it a sin to ask the Chief Minister to return to State Capital to monitor rain situation? Why he did not hold a meeting of State Disaster Management Authority despite IMD warnings of heavy rainfall. His negligent attitude is causing huge damage to the entire State. Thousands of farmers lost their crops in recent heavy rains. Now they are unable to claim insurance as banks did not pay the premium due to non-clearance of third instalment of crop loan waiver scheme by the State Government,” he said adding that the State Government should compensate for all the losses which farmers have incurred.
The Congress leader also demanded that the government declare Health Emergency and take immediate steps to prevent spread of epidemics. (NSS)