Latest news with #PalamuruRangareddyLiftIrrigationScheme
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
FGG urges Guv to order probe into PRLIS corruption allegations
Hyderabad: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) on Friday demanded Governor Jishnu Dev Varma to order a detailed inquiry on money spent for inauguration of an incomplete project (Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme) and also money spent for publicity during 2023-24. The FGG sought action to be taken on the persons responsible for squandering taxpayer's money for political gains. The FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy said that to provide drinking water and water to irrigate the perched lands of Southern Telangana, Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project was taken up in June 2015, with an estimated cost of Rs 32,000 crore and it was contemplated to complete the project in 48 months (by middle of 2019). 'Work started hurriedly without required permissions from Centre. There were serious objections from the National Green Tribunal and for the lapses the Tribunal slapped a fine of Rs 920 crore on the Government of Telangana. The Tribunal observed that 'Telangana has made it a habit of project construction without seeking environmental clearances by claiming the project construction is in public interest',' he said. The FGG president said that Andhra Pradesh filed a case in the Supreme Court against this project alleging the project was lifting water more than allotted. During the construction there were serious allegations of corruption. In addition, a number of cases were filed in the High Court by people for compensation of land acquired for the project. In this way, the project was in doldrums. By November 2023, an amount of Rs 30,000 crore was spent completing 70 per cent of the work. Due to delay, proposals to revise the estimate from Rs 32,000 crore to 50,000 crore were sent by the Chief Engineer to the Government. As the matter stands thus the then Chief Minister has taken up inauguration of the project on September 16, 2023 at Narlapoor and next day inauguration of the same project at Kollapur. In this way for the half-completed project two inaugurations just few weeks before the Assembly elections were made. For advertisement purpose, an amount of over Rs 22.13 crore was spent. The FGG said that the project was facing cases in courts. In such a situation the completion of the project was in doubt. Spending Rs 22.14 crore for inauguration of an incomplete and doubtful project is nothing but misuse of power and squandering of Tax Payer's money. The entire exercise was done a few weeks before Assembly elections only for political gains, he alleged.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Two-year deadline for completion of irrigation projects
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has set a two-year deadline for completion of irrigation projects. The CM, along with Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, held a review meeting with the officials on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Revanth instructed the officials to complete the pending irrigation projects on Krishna river by June 2027. The CM suggested that works on projects that can be completed at low cost should be taken up at the earliest. While instructing the Finance department to ensure that there are no hurdles in funding the projects in the Krishna basin, he said that the land acquisition process should be completed at the earliest. Special officers should ensure that works are expedited, he added. The CM instructed the officials to complete the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme up to Uddandapur on a priority basis. He said that the pending works up to Uddandapur should be completed within 18 months and an action plan should be prepared accordingly. The Koil Sagar lift project should also be completed by June next year, he added. It has been decided to complete the Mahatma Gandhi Kalvakurthi, Jawahar Nettempadu and Rajiv Bhima lift projects by December this year. The CM inquired about the pending works and funds required to complete the projects. Meanwhile, the CM instructed the officials to intensify their efforts to get rightful share of Krishna waters for Telangana. He said that Telangana's interests should be given top priority. 'Since about 70 per cent of the Krishna river area is in Telangana and just 30 per cent in AP, we should argue before Krishna Tribunal for 70 per cent share of water,' he said.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
‘Telangana has fulfilled CWC requirements, allot 90 tmcft for PRLIS'
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has requested Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman Atul Jain to approve water allocations for two key projects — the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) and the Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage. Accompanied by Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) G Anil Kumar and interstate SE Salla Vijay Kumar, the minister met Jain in New Delhi on Wednesday. He also raised concerns over interstate water management, infrastructure safety and the potential impact of Polavaram backwaters. It must be noted that Jain also holds additional charge as chairman of the KRMB and the Polavaram Project Authority. Launched in 2015, the PRLIS aims to irrigate 12.3 lakh acres in drought-prone districts like Mahbubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Vikarabad, Rangareddy and Nalgonda by lifting two tmcft of Krishna river water daily using a series of five pumping stations during the 60-day flood season. Uttam sought an overall allocation of 90 tmcft for the project, with a first-phase sanction of 45 tmcft, noting that all CWC requirements had been fulfilled. For the Sammakka-Sarakka Barrage at Thupakulagudem in Mulugu district, the minister requested 44 tmcft. The barrage, with a capacity of 6.94 tmcft, is meant to stabilise irrigation across 5.55 lakh hectares under the Devadula and Sriramsagar schemes, and also supply drinking water to villages along the route. He said all maps and documentation had been submitted. The minister also expressed concern over Andhra Pradesh's alleged illegal diversion of Krishna water and urged the installation of telemetry instruments at key river points to monitor flow and prevent unauthorised drawals. He noted that Telangana had already released its financial share to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) for the purpose. Threat of Polavaram backwaters Highlighting the backwater threat from the Polavaram project, Uttam called for a fresh assessment and safeguards to protect Telangana from possible flooding and displacement. He also sought CWC's cooperation in conducting a geo-technical and structural review of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, referencing the National Dam Safety Authority's (NDSA) recommendation for CWC's oversight. After the meeting, Uttam said the CWC chairman responded positively and promised prompt action on the state's representations.
