Bhatti Assures Fund Release For Completion of Projects in Khammam
Fast track clearances for Sitarama project, Uttam tells officials
Hyderabad: Irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Thursday directed officials to vigorously pursue and fast-track the environmental clearance process for the Sitaramasagar lift irrigation scheme. The directive came at a review meeting along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Vakiti Srihari, MPs, MLAs and MLCs on major irrigation projects in the erstwhile Khammam district.
Bhatti, who is also finance minister, assured full support and timely release of funds for speedy completion of irrigation projects in the district.
Uttam Kumar Reddy called on officials to step up work on land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement, forest and environmental clearances, and resolution of court cases. “Compile all pending requisitions immediately and submit them to district collectors and revenue divisional officers for time-bound action,” he told the officials.
On the Sitarama lift irrigation scheme, Uttam Kumar Reddy said pending environmental clearances should be expedited, and that procedural delays should not deprive farmers of irrigation benefits. The government accords top priority, despite financial constraints arising from borrowings made by the previous government, to mobilising resources and completing all viable ongoing irrigation projects, he said.
Following a proposal from Srinivas Reddy, the irrigation minister gave in-principle approval to lift water from Sitarama Lift Package-I to the Bayyaram upland tribal areas in Yellandu Assembly constituency, and directed officials to prepare the required proposals. He also said diverting Godavari waters from the Sitarama project to the Paleru balancing reservoir through the NSP Left Canal system should be accorded top priority.
On the issue of submergence in Bhadrachalam division from the backwaters of Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram project, Uttam Kumar Reddy assured the meeting that the matter will be taken up with the Polavaram Project Authority.
He also said he will undertake a comprehensive tour of irrigation projects in the erstwhile Khammam district within a fortnight to review progress on the ground.
