Mps Want Power Rate Hike Pruned

Though the government, after the recent agitation by farmers in west Godavari district, had reduced the two rates, this reduction was far below what the farmers had expected.

Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdhary, briefing reporters after the meeting said most of the MPs had extensively toured their respective constituencies during the three week break in the current Parliament session and found considerable anxiety and unrest among the farmers over the hike. They were confident the Chief Minister will take note of this and suitably modify the tax proposals.

On the controversial Almatti dam issue, the ruling party MPs felt Karnataka was confusing the entire issue. The Bachawat award has to be honoured by all the parties.

By refusing to allow inspection by an experts committee, Karnataka was only exposing itself to the charge that it has considerable things to hide.

They reiterated that there could be no compromise on the dam height issue and they would utilise all the fora at their disposal to press for this.

Asked if they would also quit the parliament as threatened by the Congress MPs from the state, Renuka Chowdhary said the issue can not be resolved by their quitting Parliament. What was needed was an impassionate examination of the points of view of the two states.

We shall fight to safeguard the interests of our State at any cost, she reiterated.