Hyderabad, Mar 17: Amidst stiff opposition from CPM and Congress benches, the Andhra Pradesh Farmers Irrigation Systems (amendment) Bill, 2002, was passed in the state assembly here today after division of votes. Vehemently opposing the bill, which aims at creating farmers' groups to manage irrigation facilites in the state, CPM and Congress members wanted the rule of reservations to be followed in the proposed groups. When irrigation minister K Srihari firmly turned down the demand saying that the farmers' bodies would be apolitical in nature and function like self help groups, the opposition pressed for a division and deputy speaker Harishwar Reddy, who was in the chair, put the motion for voting.


The motion was carried with 96 (TDP and BJP) members favouring it while 26 (Congress and CPM) opposing it.


Assuring that the bill aims at creating farmers' groups for better water management with a continuous body by holding elections at regular intervals, the minister said the rule of reservation would be implemented in these bodies whenever it becomes mandatory for such groups.
Bureau Report