In an open rebellion against their own government in the state, a group of senior Congress leaders on Wednesday called on the state governor ESL Narasimham and complained to him about the large-scale irregularities in the irrigation department.
The team was headed by Minister Ponnala Laxmiah.
Palvai Goverdhan Reddy, MLC, who lead the delegation, said that they submitted a memorandum to Governor demanding changes in the design of the Rs 7,000-crore Polavaram irrigation project on river Godavari.
They contended the present design would submerge large areas and displace lakhs of people, mostly tribals, in the Telangana region. The delegation, comprising six Telangana Congress leaders, urged the governor to direct the state government to make changes in the design so as to protect the interests of Telangana.
A delegation member admitted they told the governor about the large-scale irregularities and corruption in the Jalayagam programme, "We did not mention them in the memorandum. But we briefed the governor about the irregularities in the department," he said.
Earlier in the day, Union Law minister and AICC in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Verappa Moily had warned the dissidents not to go ahead with their plan of complaining to the Governor about the minister.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the day, Union Law minister and AICC in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Verappa Moily had warned the dissidents not to go ahead with their plan of complaining to the Governor about the minister.
{{/usCountry}}He reportedly told them that such acts would queer the pitch for Congress in Telangana, where by-elections to a dozen assembly seats are slated for next month.
The main opposition, Telugu Desam party has decided to press for a judicial probe into the corruption in the Jalayagam project, for which the state government has spent Rs 52,000 crore in the past six years.