Hyderabad: Irrigation minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday met Union environmental affairs minister Dr Harshavardhan and thanked him for granting two key forest clearances for the Kaleswaram Project. Mr Harish Rao, who met Dr Harshvardhan along with TRS MPs B. Vinod Kumar and B.B. Patil, told mediapersons in Delhi that projects intended for drinking needs must not have to wait for months for approvals. “They can be cleared as and when proposals reach the ministry, in a stipulated time.”
He sought environment and forest clearances for some other irrigation projects. “I have requested him to grant clearances for the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Sitarama lift schemes besides other pending issues concerning Kaleswaram,” Mr Harish Rao said. He requested the minister to see to it ensure that environmental issues of major irrigation projects are dealt with in a bunch as early clearances would help the states.
