Protect state's river water share, Harish tells Kishan
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-01-27 16:38 GMT
Hyderabad: Senior BRS leader T. Harish Rao has urged Union minister G. Kishan Reddy to take the initiative to get clearances for Telangana’s projects, and asked Kishan Reddy as a union minister representing the state, to bring to the notice of the Centre the efforts of Andhra Pradesh to rob Telangana of its share of river waters.
In a letter to Kishan Reddy, Harish Rao said it was disturbing to learn that “Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was extending support for AP’s illegal Banakacharla project that will use 200 TMCft of water from Godavari river and move it to the Penna river basin. This will directly hurt Telangana’s interest. AP is going ahead with the project despite having no permissions.”
The BRS leader said among the issues Kishan Reddy should pursue with the Central government are the lifting of one additional TMCft of water from Godavari using the Kaleshwaram project. The technical advisory committee has been keeping its clearances for the Sitamma Sagar project for the last six months, and the Centre also needs to give its nod to environmental
clearances to the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. “Despite these challenges, the Telangana Government completed 70 per cent of the project’s works, including reservoirs, pump houses, and pipelines. However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a stay on canal works due to the lack of environmental clearance. Regrettably, the Congress Government in Telangana has made no serious effort to resolve this issue or obtain the necessary clearances,” Harish Rao said.
clearances to the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme. “Despite these challenges, the Telangana Government completed 70 per cent of the project’s works, including reservoirs, pump houses, and pipelines. However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a stay on canal works due to the lack of environmental clearance. Regrettably, the Congress Government in Telangana has made no serious effort to resolve this issue or obtain the necessary clearances,” Harish Rao said.
The BRS leader added, “There are several of Telangana’s projects that are awaiting clearances and you should help the state get these permissions. As a proud son of Telangana and a Union Cabinet Minister, I am confident that you will take this matter up with the Central Government and help secure these much-needed clearances for the benefit of our state.”