Uttam Meets Chhattisgarh CM, Seeks NOC for Sammakka Project
Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed Sai that once the NOC is issued, the Central Water Commission (CWC) would appraise the detailed project report. He recalled that he had, back in September last year, requested for the NOC.
Hyderabad:The long-pending issue of Chhattisgarh giving approval for the Sammakkasagar project on Godavari river might be moving closer towards resolution with irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy taking up the matter with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who is on a visit here.
Uttam Kumar Reddy met Sai on Thursday night after the latter landed in Hyderabad and urged the Chhattisgarh government to cooperate with Telangana and issue the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the project, formerly known as the Tupakulagudem barrage. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister responded positively and assured that the matter would be examined sympathetically.
Uttam Kumar Reddy briefed Sai that once the NOC is issued, the Central Water Commission (CWC) would appraise the detailed project report. He recalled that he had, back in September last year, requested for the NOC.
The irrigation minister said that following Chhattisgarh seeking a detailed survey of possible impacts of the project on that state, Telangana had released `9,883 crore for the survey which was currently underway. He reiterated Telangana’s commitment to compensate for any land submergence on account of the project in Chhattisgarh, and deposit the sum in advance if required for issuance of the NOC.
The project is designed to divert 46.96 tmc ft of Godavari waters for stabilisation of 4.40 lakh acres under SRSP Stage-II and creation of a new ayacut of 30,000 acres under the Ramappa-Pakhal Link Canal. Beyond irrigation, the project will also support stabilisation of portions of the J. Chokka Rao Devadula lift irrigation scheme and provide drinking water to hundreds of villages located along the canal network in the erstwhile Warangal and Khammam districts.