The TS government is angry with the Centre for delaying the state’s irrigation projects. The Telangana Government expressed displeasure over the delay in giving permissions and in examining the DPR of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project.
The Telangana government in a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister called out the injustice meted out towards Telangana at a time when the Upper Bhadra Project in Karnataka was given permission along with the national project tag.
The Telangana government reminded that Prime Minister Modi had promised during the 2014 election campaign that he would complete the project if he came to power.
In this regard, Telangana wrote a letter to the Union Jal Shakti Department on Tuesday pointing out that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project was taken up based on water allocations.
The Telangana government recalled the judgement given by the Godavari Tribunal that instead of the 80 TMC from Polavaram to the Krishna Delta, the rivers above the Sagar can use 80 TMC of Krishna water.
Officials mentioned in the letter that they took up the project expecting 90 TMC of water including the remaining 45 TMC in minor irrigation. However, Telangana questioned the intention of the Centre in sending back the DPR saying that the allocation of water for the project is within the purview of the court.
The Telangana government reminded that the Upper Bhadra Project was also undertaken in Karnataka in a similar manner.
It has been mentioned that the remaining water in minor irrigation projects has been proposed for Upper Bhadra based on water coming from the share transferred from Polavaram to the Krishna Delta.
It is mentioned that the Centre has not only given permission to the project but also gave it the national project tag and allotted funds in the Union Budget.
“Why is injustice being done to the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Project which is proposed to provide drinking water and to irrigate 12.30 lakh acres in six districts having 1,200 villages in drought-prone and fluoride-affected areas? Is it different for each state when it comes to permits for projects?” the Telangana government asked in the letter.
According to the gazette released by the Centre on July 15, 2021, the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Project has been included in the list of non-permitted projects and it is said that permissions should be obtained within six months. It is said that DPR has been submitted for permission.
The Telangana government reminded that it is the Centre’s responsibility to scrutinize the DPR and grant permissions within six months. However, it is unfair for the Central Water Resources Commission (CWC) to say that the DPR cannot be examined as the case is pending in tribunals.
Telangana recalled that Justice Brijesh Kumar had said that they do not have the authority to allocate water. So it was requested to examine the DPR and grant permission subject to the final judgment of the Tribunal.
Rajat Kumar, the Special Chief Secretary of the State Irrigation Department, appealed to the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Pankaj Kumar, to continue examining the DPR and to order the Central Water Board to grant permission quickly.
Rajat said that they had submitted detailed answers to all the points raised by the Central Water Board.
