Hyderabad, June 21: Amidst intensifying war of words over the controversial Paragodu project, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will lead an all-party delegation to Delhi today to meet leaders of various political parties as part of efforts to mount pressure on neighbouring Karnataka to stop the project.
The delegation would initially meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and union water resources minister Arjun Charan Sethi and put across the state's arguments on the issue. An appointment had also been sought with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, official sources said.
The delegation, comprising representatives from ruling TDP, opposition Congress, BJP and Left Parties, would meet leaders of various parties and explain how the upper riparian Karnataka was allegedly "violating the inter-state agreements and central government's orders and going ahead with projects to the detriment of the interests of lower riparian Andhra Pradesh," the sources said.
As a prelude to Delhi visit, Naidu has convened an all-party meeting here today to firm up the stand.



Paragodu project across Chitravathi River in Kolar district has emerged as yet another irritant in the long history of river water dispute between Karnataka and AP, with the latter alleging the project would spell disaster for backward Anantapur and Cuddapah districts.



Karnataka, however, has rebuffed the charge and said Paragodu was essentially a drinking water project and it did not amount to violation of inter-state agreements.


Bureau Report