All eyes on: Congress, AIMIM and BJP MPs to meet on June 18

Hyderabad: The stage is set for the all-party meeting of Members of Parliament organised by irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on June 18 in Telangana. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy will be the chief guest for the meeting.

The meeting is set to discuss the Godavari-Banakacherla Project, which the leaders have opposed to stating that the project will affect the water situation in Telangana.

BJP MPs invited

Uttam Kumar Reddy has sent invitations and has also personally requested BJP MPs Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy to come for the meeting. Both BJP MPs have been invited as guests of honour to discuss the subject, which will impact the water rights of Telangana.

However, the question on everyone’s mind is, will the BJP MPs attend the meeting? This question is doing the rounds, as in an earlier all-party meeting to discuss the sharing of the finances of Telangana, the two MPs were absent.

Invitations sent out to BRS

Invitations have also been sent out to the Rajya Sabha MPs of Bharat Rashtra Samithi. The chances of them attending are also being heavily debated.

Controversy over Razakar film getting Gaddar film award

A senior Congressman, on condition of anonymity, said, “In the Gaddar film awards, the BJP MPs were present. The State government had invited them.”

The Congressman was hinting at the award being given to the Razakar film, which has become a bone of contention for the Congress party, as many Muslim organisations are upset with the film being presented with an award, and have openly criticised the government for the same.

“They have come for the award function. Now let us see if they come to discuss the water sharing issue,” explained the source.

MP Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-E- Ittehadul Muslimeen is also going to participate in the meeting.

What is the river water dispute about?

The Telangana government states that there are massive deviations in both the Krishna and Godavari basins by the Andhra Pradesh government. The Polavaram project got environmental clearance, but there have been changes made by the AP government.

Uttam Kumar said, “It is not just the Telangana government that has raised objections. The Odisha and Chhattisgarh governments have also sent letters to the ministry about the AP government and how it has proceeded with major infrastructural modifications in the project.”

'AP made crucial design changes'

The withdrawal capacity of water according to the approved project is 11,654 cusecs. But the design has been changed by the Andhra Pradesh government, and 17,560 cusecs will be withdrawn.

“These design changes are undertaken without requisite clearances or approvals,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Reddy has strongly urged the Central government to reject the changes which are being made in the project and also restrain the government of Andhra Pradesh from carrying out these changes.

The meeting of all MPs is to apprise them of the situation, what position Telangana has to take if these changes are made and how it will affect the water sharing rights for the State.