Latest news with #UnionJalShakti
Time of India
15 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Union Jal Shakti minister pushes to conserve rivers
Lucknow: Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil participated in a ' World Environment Day ' programme at Bulandshahr on Thursday, where he planted a sapling and released fish fingerlings into the Ganga. Remarking that in Indian culture, every river is revered as a mother, Patil said that conserving rivers was not just a responsibility but an act of devotion. He identified plastic pollution in rivers as one of the biggest challenges of the present times and highlighted the importance of eliminating the use of plastic. "Until we realise that the Ganga is not just a river but a life-giving force, our conservation efforts will remain incomplete," he said. Patil highlighted the role of the Namami Gange programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 and spoke about how the sewage treatment plants (STPs) installed across the Ganga basin worked to stop untreated water from entering the river. Patil interacted with 200 'Ganga praharis' and praised them for not only cleaning the river themselves but also stopping others from polluting it. He also visited the Ganga Aqua Life Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Narora, a centre working on the conservation of Gangetic dolphins, freshwater turtles and other aquatic species. He released fish fingerlings into the Ganga at Narora Ghat, a step seen as crucial for restoring the aquatic food chain. A specially designed mobile bus operated by the National Book Trust (NBT) was also launched at the event. The bus will travel to rural and semi-urban areas to promote environmental awareness through literature, storytelling and interactive learning.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Telangana not to accept Andhra's Godavari-Banakacherla link project
Hyderabad: The Telangana government will not accept the Andhra Pradesh government's proposed Godavari-Banakacherla link project under any circumstances, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Tuesday. He made it clear that Telangana is against the project and will never accept it. Talking to media persons, the minister disputed the claim by the Andhra Pradesh leaders that they will use water going to waste into the sea. Uttam Kumar Reddy said all efforts were being made to stop the Godavari-Banakacherla project. The Telangana government has written letters to the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. He said that he directly spoke to the Union Minister to discuss the issue and urged him to stop the project. "We have conveyed our objections and we will respond at an appropriate time," he said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during his separate meetings with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Jal Shakti Minister Patil on May 23, submitted a proposal seeking the Centre's project for the Polavaram-Banakalcherla link project. The project aims to divert surplus water from the Godavari River to water-scarce areas in south-central Andhra Pradesh. It will use lift irrigation and tunnels to connect the regions in three phases. The Chief Minister said that the project would benefit millions in drought-hit areas and serve as a model for river linking across India. The Detailed Project Report is expected this month. Naidu stated that the Polavaram–Banakacharla link project, costing Rs 80,000 crore, will divert 200 TMC of water without affecting any other states. "Telangana too is building projects on the Godavari. Over the past 100 years, 2,000 TMC of water flowed into the sea. Our plan is to redirect 200 TMC of this surplus to drought-prone areas through this project, to be initiated upon Central approval," he said. In April, Telangana Irrigation officials had opposed the project at the GRMB meeting. Irrigation Secretary Rahul Bojja and other officials presented strong arguments before the GRMB against AP for taking up the Godavari-Banakacherla project without approvals and for violating Tribunal orders. The officials told GRMB that, as per media reports, the G-B link scheme is a major project proposed with an estimated cost of Rs 80,112 crore. The plan involves diverting more than 200 tmcft from the Godavari River at Polavaram to Rayalaseema through the Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla head regulator. The proposal seeks to interlink the Godavari, Krishna and Penna rivers by expanding the Polavaram Reservoir Head Works against the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka to seek time with PM over Almatti issue
The Karnataka government will seek time with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to discuss the issue of the Almatti reservoir across the Krishna in view of the objection raised by the Maharashtra government over raising the dam's height. 'After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responds to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's letter, I will seek time from the Prime Minister and the Jal Shakti Minister,' Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told presspersons here on Tuesday. In the next two days, Mr. Siddaramaiah is expected to reply to the objection from the Maharashtra Chief Minister, he said here, after inspecting the venue where Kempe Gowda Jayanti is to be held this year. Mr. Shivakumar said, 'We will also share the Chief Minister's letter with all the members of Parliament [from the State] so that they can take it up in the House. We will seek an appointment with the Prime Minister after that. It is important that all of us safeguard the State's interests together.' Meanwhile, he said the government would lay the foundation stone for the Kempe Gowda Development Authority on June 27 and celebrate Kempe Gowda Jayanti. A museum on Kempe Gowda will also come up on the allotted land, he said. 'Our local leaders have suggested swapping the allotted land with the land belonging to the Social Welfare Department since it also has an auditorium. A railway line will also pass through this place, and a station will be built there. This will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting,' he added. Asked if the land was too far from the city, he said, 'Bengaluru has grown now, where else can we allot the land? No one is willing to part with the golf course and racecourse.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka seethes as Maharashtra opposes Almatti dam project; Deputy CM Shivakumar says will petition PM Modi, Union ministers
Increasing the height of the Almatti dam, built across the Krishna River in the Bagalkot district, has become the subject of a flashpoint between Karnataka and its northern neighbour, Maharashtra, after the latter raised objections over the project for the first time. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said the opposition to the project was 'shocking' and the state government would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil regarding the issue. As per the Krishna Tribunal order, Karnataka can increase the height of the Alamatti dam from the existing 519.6 to 524.256 metre. 'Maharashtra, which was quiet when the order was pronounced, has suddenly written a letter to our CM objecting to it,' he said. In the letter, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his opposition to the project, saying that increasing the height would cause flooding in the upstream areas of Sangli and Kolhapur districts in Maharashtra. The final verdict of the Krishna Tribunal in 2013 allowed Karnataka to use 173 TMC of water, apart from allocations to Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. However, a gazette notification regarding the same is yet to be issued. On May 5 this year, Union Minister Patil had cancelled an appointment with Shivakumar – who was in Delhi to press for the notification – at the last minute. 'Days later, on May 9, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah received the letter from Fadnavis,' the Karnataka Deputy CM said. 'The Maharashtra government had even submitted an affidavit to the Tribunal seeking an increase in Almatti height, but is opposing it all of a sudden, now,' Shivakumar told a news conference. Delaying the gazette notification, he said, would have an adverse effect on Karnataka on account of cost escalation. According to the minister, the land acquisition cost for the project alone would cost the exchequer Rs 1 lakh crore. Asked whether the Maharashtra CM's letter was politically motivated, Shivakumar declined to comment, saying that he would only speak for Karnataka's interests. 'There is no scientific basis for the letter (by Fadnavis). Increasing the Alamatti dam is our right,' he said. Almatti is among the largest dams in the state, providing irrigation to riparian districts such as Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Raichur, among others, in the northern part of Karnataka.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maharashtra's objection to Almatti damheight increase is shocking: Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar said Maharashtra's objections to Karnataka govt's decision to increase the Almatti dam height has come as a "shock". He urged all MPs and central ministers from Karnataka to cooperate with the state govt to implement the project by convincing the Centre. "We will meet the Prime Minister regarding the issue," the DCM, who also holds the water resources, said Monday. "Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote to (his Karnataka counterpart) Siddaramaiah on May 9 raising objections to increasing the height of Almatti dam. Fadnavis said Sangli and Kolhapur districts would face flooding if the dam height is raised, and the letter asked for re-evaluating the plan. This letter is a shock to us," said Shivakumar. He added that Maharashtra had never raised objections to the project earlier. It did not raise any issues when the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal passed its judgment in 2010. Maharashtra, which even submitted an affidavit to the tribunal seeking to increase dam height, was opposing it all of a sudden. He added that as per the tribunal's order, Karnataka could increase the height of the dam to 524 metres from the current 519 metres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "I appeal to all the central ministers and MPs with folded hands to protect the state's interest," said Shivakumar. He added that the project was Karnataka's right which was accorded by the tribunal. "Our CM will give a reply to the Maharashtra CM by Tuesday. Union minister V Somanna is part of the Union Jal Shakti ministry. The Almatti project is needed for Karnataka, but we don't want friction with our neighbouring state. The cost escalation is very high due to delays. We would need Rs 1 lakh crore for land acquisition for this project," he said. He stated, "We will meet the PM and the Union Jal Shakti minister regarding this. Karnataka has been awaiting a gazette notification since 2013 for increasing dam height. How long should we wait? We will share the letter from Maharashtra CM and our reply to it with all our MPs," he said.
