Industry & Economy
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Water
Minister explains move for Vizag water project review
Our Bureau
Visakhapatnam
,
May 26
THE Congress Government will review the Visakhapatnam Industrial Water Supply Scheme, meant to divert 5 tmc ft of the Godavari water to meet the needs of local industries and people, ``with the objective of providing drinking water to people at reasonable rates'', according to Mr K. Ramakrishna, the Commercial Taxes Minister.
Half of the water is meant for industrial use and the rest for Visakhapatnam municipal corporation.
Mr Ramakrishna was answering a query at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Vizag Journalists' Forum here on Wednesday.
He said the review would not be limited to the role of Larsen and Toubro, which had been entrusted with the implementation of the project by the Telugu Desam Government, but to all other aspects.
``Commercialisation of drinking water is not acceptable to us, but at the same time part of the cost will have to be collected from the public consumers. Therefore, we will strive to reduce the burden on the common man to the extent possible,'' Mr Ramakrishna said.
To a specific query on whether L&T would be divested of the responsibility of implementing the project, and whether the project would be given to the State Irrigation Department, as sought by the Left parties, Mr Ramakrishna refused to comment.
"It is not our aim to undo whatever the Telugu Desam Government did. I do not think the other projects taken up here need such scrutiny,'' he said.
Mr. Ramakrishna said the new Government would introduce a ``trader-friendly'' regime, plug loopholes and enhance revenue through commercial taxes.
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