T RAMACHANDER RAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this writ petition which is in the nature of Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner who is a retired Superintending Engineer of the Government of Andhra Pradesh has prayed for the following reliefs:

(2.) The principal contention raised in the application is that the Telangana area of the State which is a backward area is being kept out of the developmental progress, as a result whereof, the poor areas are becoming poorer and poorer whereas all developmental activities have been concentrated in the rich areas, the people whereof are becoming richer and richer. The petitioner further contends that 75% of the population of Telangana area depend on agriculture and other works for their living and as no proper irrigational facilities have been provided in the area, the people are suffering a lot. The petitioner has referred to the details of various projects taken up in the area in relation to rivers Godavari and Krishna viz., Sri Ramsagar, Srisailam Left Bank Canal, Pochampad, Jurala etc., which have not been completed so far. According to the petitioner, the non- implementation of various irrigational projects taken up in the area and lack of provision of sufficient irrigational facilities affected the agriculture in the area considerably and the living conditions of the people in particular. The petitioner has also given comparative statistical figures of both the regions in the State in relation to irrigated area/sown area prior to formation and after the formation of the State of Andhra Pradesh to show that there was discrimination between the two regions in the matter implementation of the irrigation projects and the required irrigation potentials were not created by the State in the area, as a result whereof, the irrigation content in Telangana area has not increased to cater to the needs of the farmers and there was neglect on the part of the State.

(3.) The previous agreements and arrangements entered into between the States viz., erstwhile Hyderabad State and erstwhile Andhra State and with other States at the time of formation of the State of Andhra Pradesh in relation to irrigation, power or multipurpose projects and sharing of Krishna and Godavari waters are required to be implemented by the respondents herein in view of Section 108 of the States Re-organisation Act.