Hyderabad: Union water resources minister Uma Bharathi has in principle agreed to provide financial assistance to five irrigation projects taken up by the TS government under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and newly-launched PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
This was confirmed by TS irrigation minister T. Harish Rao who met Ms Bharathi in Delhi. He also attended the first meeting of the National Water Resources Coordination Committee constituted for the purpose of preparing a roadmap to complete pending irrigation projects identified across the country.
Mr Harish Rao said that the Indiramma Flood Flow Canal (under Sriramsagar Project), Rajiv Bheema, Jagnathpur, Komaram Bheem and Palem Vagu projects would be included under AIBP and PMKSY this year and taken up on priority basis with Central assistance.
Proposals for the execution of the five projects would be forwarded to the Centre by March 11. He said he requested Ms Bharati to increase funding under AIBP from the present 25 per cent to 60 per cent of the total cost of each project.
The Centre also agreed to release the pending Rs 112 crore to Devadula project in a week’s time. Ms Bharathi told reporters that she would soon tour TS and visit a few important irrigation projects and also the Mission Kakatiya sites for a first-hand view.
She said the Centre will not discriminate between states on allocation of funds or on clearing pending issues.
Mr Harish Rao said that the Devadula project would be completed by 2017- 18.
Allocations for the projects taken up in extremist-affected areas in Maharashtra, TS and Chhattisgarh were also discussed.
The demand to increase the limit on loans taken from NABARD for construction of the irrigation projects, and the share of the Centre and the state in the payment of loans were also discussed. The Centre would take a decision on this soon.
