Hyderabad: The state government’s flagship project, the Kaleshwaram Lift Irri-gation Scheme, cleared a major hurdle on Friday by obtaining forest clearances for the second phase from the union ministry of environment and forests.The forest clearances for the first phase are in place. The project has received clearances from several Union ministries over the past fortnight.
It secured hydrology clearance, interstate approval, construction machinery permissions and clearances from the Union ministry of water resources. In a statement issued here on Friday, irrigation minister T. Harish Rao termed the environment and forest clearance for the scheme as a “slap on the face of the evil forces who were trying to obstruct the project by filing court cases.”
Mr Rao said that the public hearing has been completed based on terms of references issued for environmental impact assessment on affected villages. Mr Rao had camped in New Delhi on November 21 and 22 to persuade Union ministers to clear various permissions. He said the project will be crucial to achieve the CM’s dream of irrigating 1 crore acres in the state.
