Hyderabad, June 11 (RAHNUMA): Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday directed officials to vigorously pursue and fast-track the environmental clearance process for the Sitarama Sagar Lift Irrigation Scheme.
Chairing a comprehensive review meeting at Jalasoudha on major irrigation projects in the erstwhile Khammam district, the Minister instructed officials to remove all hurdles delaying project execution.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Revenue, Housing and I&PR Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao, district In-charge Minister Vakiti Srihari, MPs, MLAs and MLCs from the district participated in the meeting.
Uttam Kumar Reddy made it clear that issues relating to land acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R), forest clearances, environmental clearances and court cases should be addressed on a priority basis.
He directed irrigation officials to compile all pending requisitions immediately and submit them to district collectors and revenue divisional officers for time-bound action.
Reviewing the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project, the Minister stressed the need to expedite all pending environmental clearances. Officials informed him that the project had already secured Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) clearance, also known as Techno-Economic Clearance, from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
He said procedural delays should not deprive farmers of irrigation benefits and instructed officials to coordinate closely with all concerned departments to ensure early clearance of pending environmental issues.
The Minister also reviewed court-related matters concerning the project and directed officials to closely monitor cases pending before the Supreme Court and other judicial forums. He suggested deputing the Additional Advocate General to New Delhi for effective representation of the State’s interests before the Supreme Court.
Stating that irrigation remained a top priority for the Telangana government, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that despite financial constraints arising from borrowings made by the previous government, the State was committed to mobilising resources and completing all viable ongoing irrigation projects.
He said that diverting Godavari waters from the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project to the Paleru Balancing Reservoir through the NSP Left Canal system should be accorded top priority.
Through the strategically designed Sita Rama Lift Irrigation Project (SRLIP), Godavari waters are being lifted from the Dummugudem Anicut and integrated with the NSP Left Canal system, thereby stabilising and augmenting irrigation in the existing ayacut, particularly in tail-end and water-scarce areas.
Reviewing land acquisition issues, the Minister instructed officials to expedite compensation payments and negotiated settlements wherever feasible. He said pending land acquisition issues should be resolved through close coordination between irrigation, revenue and district authorities.
Officials informed the Minister that land acquisition had been largely completed in some project stretches, while certain forest clearances were still under process. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to secure all required forest clearances by July-end and ensure that contractors do not cite land-related issues as reasons for delays.
The Minister also directed officials to expedite land acquisition for the Munneru–Paleru Link Canal.
In a significant decision, the Minister gave in-principle approval to a proposal made by Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy to lift water from Sitarama Lift Package-I to the Bayyaram upland tribal areas in Yellandu Assembly constituency. He directed officials to prepare a practical and cost-effective proposal covering the source point, minimum lift requirement, utilisation of local streams, financial implications and expected ayacut benefits.
Uttam Kumar Reddy further directed officials to prepare package-wise timelines, record agency-wise commitments in the minutes of the meeting and regularly monitor progress. He warned that delays by non-performing agencies would not be tolerated.
Addressing the issue of submergence in Bhadrachalam division due to Polavaram project backwaters, the Minister assured public representatives that the matter would be taken up shortly with the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and a dedicated review meeting would be convened to find solutions.
The Minister also announced that he would undertake a comprehensive tour of irrigation projects in the erstwhile Khammam district within a fortnight to review progress on the ground.
