Drop Polavaram-Banakacharla river linkage project, says former NDMA vice chief
Reddy said he had written to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on August 6 to drop the proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacharla project that seeks to divert Godavari waters to the Krishna River and then to the Pennar basin and instead follow the 'four-water concept' adopted by the Rajasthan government.
Reddy, son of former chief minister Dr Marri Channa Reddy, recalled that during his earlier stint as the chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh in 2000, Naidu had launched the 'Neeru-Meeru' programme by constituting a Water Conservation Mission (WCM) with many eminent experts, including late T Hanumantha Rao.
The expert committee recommended implementation of the Watershed Development projects based on Four Waters Concept (FWC), which is effective utilisation of rainwater, soil moisture up to water table level, ground water and surface water. This technology stresses on water spreading techniques to facilitate recharge to ground water, in the upper areas of the watershed, through mini percolation tanks, he said.
Reddy said the scheme launched in October 2001 covered nearly 84 villages in Telangana and about 120 villages in Rayalaseema and it had yielded excellent results. 'For instance, at Gottigaripalli village of Kohir block in Sangareddy district the scheme, implemented at a cost of about ₹5,000 per acre, consistently provided water for three crops in a year,' he said.
He said subsequently, the FWC was completely ignored in the Telugu states, it was successfully implemented in Rajasthan by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia under the 'Mukhyamantri Jal Swavalamban Abhiyan' (MJSA) between 2014 and 2018.
Ironically, a Telangana government engineer Md Afsar went on deputation to implement the programme in Rajasthan, he said.
Reddy appealed to Naidu, who had sowed the seed for FWC during the tenure of combined Andhra Pradesh in 2001, to seriously consider it as a viable, low-cost alternative to the Polavaram--Banakacherla Project.
This can be implemented in about two years, capable of providing water for three crops annually to cater to 30 lakh acres for a total cost of just ₹4,500 crore at the rate of ₹15,000 per acre at today's rates. This will be a fraction of even the minimum basic estimated cost of ₹81,900 crore for the Polavaram-Banakacharla project, he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
Telangana Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy meets producers, film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 11 (ANI): Telangana Minister of Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy held a meeting with Film producers, including Film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju and Home secretary Ravi Gupta, at the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad to discuss the latest issues in the cinema industry, as per Minister PRO. Amid the ongoing tensions in the Telugu film industry, megastar Chiranjeevi on August 9 refuted claims of his involvement with the dispute. Chiranjeevi slammed the false information shared by individuals claiming to be members of the Film Federation that he met with the protesting workers and offered assurances over their demands. Taking to X, Chiranjeevi wrote, " It has come to my attention that some individuals claiming to be the members of the Film Federation have gone to media falsely claiming that I have met them and given an assurance that their demands regarding 30% wage hike etc., shall be met and that I will be starting shooting very soon. I wish to set the record straight that I have not met anyone from the federation This is an industry issue and no individual including me can give any unilateral assurances to solve any problem one way or the other. The film chamber is the apex body of the Telugu Film Industry and only the Film chamber as a collective will engage in discussions with all concerned and arrive at a just solution. Until such time, making such false claims is unacceptable. I condemn all such baseless and motivated claims to create confusion among all stakeholders. Please note." Earlier this month, the film chamber had issued a strict directive, stating that members of the Telugu Industry Film Employees' Federation have demanded a 30 per cent wage increase. "We have already been paying much higher than the existing minimum wages as per the act to both skilled and unskilled workers. This disruption will cause heavy damage to films in production. Chamber condemns this action taken by Federation as we have worked together with their members for decades," the directive read. Mentioning that the chamber has been in talks with the relevant authorities to secure a sustainable solution, they asked producers to strictly avoid independent action or separate arrangements with unions until resolution. (ANI)
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Film Producers Go To Andhra Pradesh And Telangana Government After 8 Days Of Shooting Strike
Producers from the Telugu film industry have met with cinematography ministers in both Andhra Pradesh and in Telangana, apparently in an effort to resolve a crisis sparked by an ongoing strike by film employees. The strike, now in its eighth day, has brought all film shoots to a halt, causing significant financial losses and delays to numerous projects. The Telugu Film Industry Employees' Federation (TFIEF) initiated the strike, demanding a 30% wage hike, split as a 10% increase per year over three years. The union argues that wages have remained stagnant for three years despite a rising cost of living. In response, the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce offered a conditional wage increase of 15-20% for lower-paid workers, with stipulations such as 12-hour workdays and more flexible hiring practices. However, the TFIEF rejected this offer, deepening the stalemate. In Andhra Pradesh, a delegation of producers including BVSN Prasad, DVV Danayya, and KL Narayana met with Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh in Vijayawada. The producers said they had not come to discuss the federation employees strike but other issues related to the film industry's development in the state. Kandula Durgesh said the government may not have a role in the strike that will have to be mutually resolved by the film producers and the federation. "I will pass on their message to the chief minister and deputy chief minister," he said. According to reports, the producers did not directly discuss the workers' strike with the minister, stating that the Film Chamber and Federation would handle the matter. The delegation also requested an appointment with Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan to discuss the industry's growth in Andhra Pradesh. The Strike Has Intensified In Hyderabad, a separate group of producers, including Telangana FDC Chairman Dil Raju, Gemini Kiran, and Home Secretary Ravi Gupta, met with Telangana Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy in Hyderabad. The discussion reportedly centered on the ongoing problems within the industry, particularly the employee strike. The Telangana minister has previously shown support for the workers' demand, saying there is a need to increase wages. The strike has intensified the conflict between producers and the employees' federation. Producers argue that a 30% hike is unsustainable, especially for small-budget films, and comes at a time when the industry is already under financial strain from factors like declining theatre audiences and reduced OTT rights. The Film Chamber has also accused the Federation of demanding excessively high membership fees, which they claim act as a barrier for new talent trying to enter the industry. In response to the strike, the Chamber has instructed its members not to engage in separate negotiations with individual unions and has called for non-union professionals to work with them at mutually agreeable wages.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
India won't be shaken by tariff threats, says Naidu
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said India would not be shaken by tariff threats or trade barriers imposed by other nations, in an apparent reference to past remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump describing it as a 'dead economy.' Addressing the Har Ghar Tiranga programme here, Mr. Naidu said the country had made rapid strides since Independence, emerging as the world's fourth largest economy and set to climb to third place, driven by reforms since the 1990s. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in 'steering the country through troubled times,' noting India's talented human resources as a key asset. The tricolour, he said, was not just a symbol but a source of inspiration, evoking the sacrifices of freedom fighters and the Armed Forces. Recalling India's 'befitting reply' to the Pahalgam terror attacks, he urged people to uphold patriotism and unity. Mr. Naidu paid tributes to Pingali Venkaiah, Alluri Sitarama Raju and others who fought for freedom. Ministers Kandula Durgesh and Y. Satya Kumar, MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, and senior officials were present.
