Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao today urged the Centre to give Telangana its rightful share of 45 tmc waters from Pattiseema project. He said a key meeting chaired by Union Water Resources Ministry was incomplete and there was no breakthrough.
The minister urged the Centre to accord priority to Brijesh Kumar Tribunal Award and bring irrigation projects under KRMB purview. The Centre should give funds through Nabard excluding FRBM purview to develop the states and achieve the goals of irrigation projects, he said. Harish Rao participated in a meeting on projects, rivers and water management chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari in Delhi.
Later talking to media persons Harish Rao said that he urged the Centre to consider Brijesh Tribunal award for ample use of water by two Telugu states. I invited Gadkari and another union environment minister Harshavardhan to visit Kaleshwaram project which is being completed on a war-footing and they are expected soon, he said. “Gadkari appreciated the Kaleshwaram project and I urged him to provide financial assistance to boost the projects”, he said. Of 11 projects given by the Centre, two were completed, and six more will be completed by June this year and efforts will be made to reach the target to complete the rest will be next year the minister maintained.
He also said that Rs 1000 cr sought from the Centre under Cadvam project including immediate release of Rs 450 cr for Devadula project and Rs 35 cr for Bheema projct. “I have informed in the meeting that the Centre should give funds through Nabard excluding FRBM purview to develop the states and achieve the goals of irrigation projects”. Gadkari agreed in principle with my suggestions and promised to put the same before Cabinet if all other irrigation ministers attended the meeting give their report he said. We have appealed to Harshavardhan to give environment and wildlife permissions for Sitarama project, first phase of forest clearance for Palamur- Ranga Reddy projects. He extended thanks to the minister for according to environmental clearance to the Kaleshwaram project. (NSS)