Hyderabad: The Telangana government is going ahead with the Palamuru-Rangareddy lift-irrigation scheme and other projects despite objections from Andhra Pradesh.
“The AP government’s objection to the Palamuru scheme is meaningless. Who gave permission to them to take up the Pattiseema project? If that is okay, our project is also okay. We are going ahead with the Palamuru project. Administrative sanction has already been issued. Let them complain,” irrigation adviser to the government R. Vidyasagar Rao told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Vidyasagar Rao, however, admitted that according to the AP Reorganisation Act, any new irrigation project taken up either by Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, has to be approved by the Krishna or Godavari River Management Boards. In case of further dispute, the decision of the apex authorities — the Union ministry and Union government — is final.
Referring to AP’s decision to take up the Pattiseema project, he said the project cannot be construed as part of Polavaram project. “If they claim it is not a new project then Palamuru is also not a new project,” he said.
A senior Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office official, while feigning ignorance about AP’s complaint to the KRMB against the Palamuru scheme, contended that the Pattiseema project was part of the Polavaram project.
The Palamuru-Rangareddy lift-irrigation scheme aims to provide irrigation facilities to 7 lakh acres in Mahbubnagar, 2.7 lakh acres in Ranga Reddy and 0.3 lakh acres in Nalgonda districts by lifting 70 TMC of flood water from the Krishna River near the Jurala project . The project’s estimated cost is Rs 25,000 crore.
Gadwal Congress MLA D.K. Aruna and Parigi Congress MLA, T. Rammohan Reddy said Palamuru irrigation scheme should be taken up at any cost.
