Press Releases Archive

Center prepared to consider aid for Strengthening Krishna bunds

The Union Government is prepared to consider grant of assistance to the Andhra Pradesh Government for strengthening the Krishna river bunds.

Mr. Mullapally Ramachandran, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, conveyed this to Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan in response to his representation to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his visit to Hyderabad on October 9, 2009. Party leaders Mr. Katari Srinivasa Rao and Mrs. N. Saroja Devi gave the gist of the communication received from the Union Minister at a media briefing here today.

Underlining the need for strengthening the Krishna river bunds, Dr. JP informed the Prime Minister that the river witnessed unprecedented flood of 25 lakh cusecs in October 2009 whereas the existing bunds had been designed and constructed to withstand floods of 10-11 lakh cusecs only.

The Union Minister informed Dr. JP that the Union Government would consider assistance if the State sent a detailed project report on strengthening the bunds. If the scheme is techno-economically viable, the Union Ministry of Water Resources would consider it for Central assistance.

In response to Dr. JP’s suggestion that a National Disaster Relief Force be stationed at multiple locations, the Union Minister disclosed that a battalion of the National Disaster Response Force would be located at Vijayawada.

On Dr. JP’s suggestion that hydel power generation units be flood-proofed, the Union Minister said that a committee of experts has drawn up specific recommendations and they will be communicated to States.

The Union Minister suggested that the State Government may constitute a standing committee of experts if felt necessary for flood monitoring and coordinated efforts at mitigating losses since flood control falls under the purview of States. He said a Central Water Commission officer stationed at Hyderabad could be included in the committee.

On Dr. JP’s suggestion that an expert committee be formed to study the climate change pattern in India, the Union Minister said that the Union Ministry of Water Resources has already constituted a Standing Committee of experts to assess the impact of climate change on water resources.

The Lok Satta Party leaders appealed to the State Government to shed its complacency, get funds from the Government of India and complete rehabilitation measures speedily. They wanted the Government to undertake clearance of sand-cast lands and make them fit for cultivation once again.

They pointed out that the Lok Satta had almost completed the works it promised in the four flood-affected villages adopted by it. It completed construction of classrooms in a school at Kesavaram in Mahbubnagar district, a protected drinking water scheme at Pulathota in Kurnool distrct, and a community hall at Oleru in Guntur district. The lift irrigation scheme taken up at South Chiruvolu Lanka is nearing completion.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - 16:35

Lok Satta demands civic polls on time

The Lok Satta Party today demanded that the Government drop its move to defer the elections due to municipalities and municipal corporations, and cooperative institutions. trotting out lame excuses.

In a media statement, party General Secretaries Katari Srinivasa Rao and V. Laxman Balaji said that postponement of elections ran counter to democratic and constitutional principles.

The Government would be violating the letter and spirit of the 74th amendment to the Constitution if it deferred municipal elections. Apparently, it would not like the ruling party to face the electorate especially after the rout it suffered in the by-elections to the Assembly from the Telangana region and turmoil within the party. It, therefore, was trying to find excuses like the delay in enumeration of backward class voters and the move to raise reservations for women to 50 percent for deferring the elections.

The Lok Satta leaders said that keeping civic bodies under officials’ rule instead of elected persons was undemocratic. They said they would mobilize public opinion in favor of elections on schedule.

The Lok Satta Party would like the elections to be held even on non-party basis but on schedule. The Party demanded that Chairpersons of Muncipalities and Corporations be elected directly.

Monday, August 2, 2010 - 15:47

Loksatta celebrates completion of first year in Karnataka

Loksatta Party today celebrated its first birthday in the state with an informal meeting of members and supporters, to discuss the progress made during the last year and to make plans for the future. Party members expressed satisfaction at the milestones for growth achieved during the year, and were optimistic about the next steps.

In one year since the founding of Loksatta Karnataka, the party put up a few candidates in the BBMP election, and in the process established itself as the dominant voice for good governance and anti-corruption politics in the city. Voters throughout the city were appreciative of the sensible and honest positions taken by Loksatta candidates. The media was also clearly much more appreciative of the party candidates, who (despite being only a few in number) were showcased as the leaders of the future in forum after forum. And all of this was achieved well within the legal election spending limits, proving that honest candidates can seek public office.

Party members were not unduly worried about the limited support Loksatta candidates received in the elections. For a party that had existed only a few months in the state, even to be able to garner 7 per cent of the vote in the wards it contested was a significant achievement, they agreed. Moreover, the momentum from the election continued afterward too, with the party emerging as the clear voice of the "empower Lokayukta" campaign to support Justice Santosh Hegde's stand against corruption in government. A lot of citizens realised at the time of the fracas over the Justice's threatened resignation that Loksatta is the only party that has consistently supported empowering the Lokayukta.

Looking ahead, party members expressed confidence that during the coming elections to municipal corporations and councils elsewhere in Karnataka (during 2011-12), the party would put up candidates with similar stellar records to those it fielded in the BBMP elections. The groundwork for this is already underway, said a party spokesman, expressing confidence that in election after election, henceforth, the number and proportion of Loksatta candidates would grow.

During the BBMP elections, he recalled, many voters called us to ask, "why is there not a Loksatta candidate in my ward?", said senior party leader N S Ramakanth. Our answer, then and now, is the same - "Loksatta will bring good governance to your ward soon. With your support, this can happen even quicker than it would otherwise. The tide is turning, and we will one day get cleaner, smarter politics. That day will arrive sooner if more people join to seek it."

Saturday, July 31, 2010 - 22:14

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