Disruptions in cantt areas: KTR threatens to cut water, power supply to Army

Telangana, which is at cross-hairs with the BJP-led Centre, has now turned its ire on the Indian army.

The state’s IT and Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) issued a warning to the  military, saying the  Telangana  government would cut off power and water supply in cantonment areas if it continued to disrupt life for citizens with “closure of roads without reason” and building check dams.

Rao was speaking at the Question Hour in the Assembly on the subject of the implementation of the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP) in Hyderabad.

Residents living in cantonment areas were upset over the decision of the local military authorities to build check dams on a ‘nullah’ and to shut off roads without reason, he said. If the state government has to take tough action, it can, he added.

“If the Army fails to understand, we have to do something. If necessary, we will cut the electricity supply there. If necessary, we will cut the water supply as well. We will see what they will do then,” he said on the Assembly floor, adding that there should be peaceful co-existence and that the state government cannot keep quiet over closure of roads and building of check-dams.

Also read: Telangana finance minister presents state budget; ₹1,000 crore for new medical colleges

Rao told the officials to have a dialogue with the military authorities on the issue and not to hesitate to take stringent action.

Shocking remarks, says BJP

BJP spokesperson NV Subhash said the “well-educated” KTR’s comments are “really shocking”. KTR has no respect for the Army, Subhash told newspersons.

“This really shows the Telangana government’s stand on how they treat our Army,” he said. If the Telangana government today threatens to disconnect electricity and water supply, will it next remove the military base from Hyderabad, he asked.

KTR, however, also slammed the Centre for not providing financial assistance to improve the stormwater drainage system in Hyderabad. When they had sought financial help for the SNDP, the Centre told them to join the ‘Amrut’ scheme, under which the money that would come would be insufficient for Hyderabad.

This kind of attitude by the Centre is “painful”, he said. He also recalled how the Centre had not given any financial aid to Hyderabad during the floods, while ₹1,000 crore was given to Gujarat for its flood relief measures.