Rajyasabha passes Polavaram bill

Rajyasabha has passed the amendment bill of AP reorganization bill on Polavaram a short while ago with voice vote. T-Congress and TRS members strongly opposed the bill, but Jairam Ramesh, AP Congress MPs and BJP members argued in support of the bill.

TRS MP K Keshav rao and T-Congress MPs V Hanumantha rao and Palwai Govardhan Reddy have strongly objected the amendment that allows merger of seven mandals of Kammam district with AP. They demand the government to change the design and reduce the height of the dam so as to prevent hundreds of villages and towns submerging under the project. Palwai argued that if few barrages are constructed, they can serve the same purpose of a large dam.

T-Congress MP MA Khan argued that if the dam is constructed in the present design even the holy Ram temple in Bhadrachalam will submerge under it. He asked the Home Minister whether the BJP which always talks about constructing ram temple in Ayodya will let Bhadrachalam submerge under the project?

Most of the members argued against the project have stressed for change of design, revoke the ordinance and take all the three states into consideration before going ahead with the project.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh appreciates Jairam Ramesh for doing a healthy debate on the bill. Home Minister honestly agreed that Jairam Ramesh has more knowledge about the project and related issues than him.

Replying to memers's concern for tribal rehabilitation, he said that his government is also as much concerned as the members about the welfare of the tribal going to be displaced under the project. He said that his government will do everything for rehabilitating the tribal and will also try to minimize the submerging area.

Finally, the resolution moved by K Keshav rao was rejected and the bill moved by Home Minister Rajnath Singh was passed with voice vote.