Latest news with #WRD
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Polavaram Left Main Canal works will be completed this year, says A.P. Minister
Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu reiterated the government's commitment to completing the Polavaram Left Main Canal works by the end of this year. He said that the government was taking concrete steps to expedite the completion of several key irrigation projects in the North Andhra region. Addressing the media on Friday, Mr. Rama Naidu alleged that former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had neglected the development of Uttarandhra. 'Instead of prioritising key projects like Sujala Sravanthi, which would have ensured water supply to the region, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had focused on constructing lavish buildings at Rushikonda,' he said. The Minister alleged that the previous YSRCP government had created 'a climate of fear' in the State. He also found fault with Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy for 'supporting provocative statements by his cadre'. Mr. Rama Naidu said that the NDA government was working to attract major investments to Visakhapatnam, promote the IT sector, and support the film industry. He assured that steps were being taken to protect the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) from privatisation. 'The government remains committed to completing the Polavaram Project by December 2027,' he said. Participating the media conference, Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao criticised Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSRCP leaders for 'passing derogatory comments against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu'.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
20k sqm Pilerne hill conversion risks landslides, threatens lake
Panaji: The town and country planning department has given the greenlight to convert a 20,000 sqm land parcel on the Pilerne hillside that forms the buffer zone and catchment area for Pilerne's Saulem Lake. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This zone change effectively reintroduces elements of the controversial Regional Plan 2011 that was scrapped after a massive public protest. The conversion was provisionally granted under Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning Act. If granted final approval, this will see a steep hill slope being opened up for construction. The land parcel is currently marked as partly orchard with 'No Development Slope' in the Goa Regional Plan – 2021, meaning that the gradient is considered too steep for construction and is vulnerable to soil instability. 'In 2006, around the time RP-2011 was notified, over 90 trees were hacked down and the hill was burnt for days. This notification is yet another instance in the TCP's chequered history,' said professor of development studies Solano da Silva. The TCP granted provisional approval for change of zone under Section 39A for Survey No. 37/0 and 37/1 in Pilerne on June 18. The department has given a brief window for stakeholders to voice their concerns. Environmental experts argue that construction on such steep slopes could alter the natural water flow, exacerbating the risk of landslides. 'Allowing development activities on such steep hill slopes poses a severe risk of landslides in the future. This danger extends not only to structures within the converted property but also to adjacent properties with existing structures, which could face the brunt of slope erosion and altered water flow, potentially leading to loss of life and property,' said Pilerne Citizens Forum secretary Hilario Lobo. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The TCP has ignored the proximity to the eco-sensitive Saulem Lake, also known as Pilerne Lake, which was notified as a protected wetland on Dec 9 through a gazette notification. The Wetland Notification of 2018 clearly stated that a 'zone of influence' means part of the catchment area of the wetland or wetland complex. The lake functions as a natural funnelled aquifer, replenished by springs. The water resources department (WRD) has demarcated the buffer zone as a water catchment area under the Catchment Area Department Authority of Goa (CADA). Environmentalists say that the TCP department has failed to independently assess the gradient and slope, with ISRO satellite imagery analysis indicating the slope is greater than 25 degrees, which should classify it as no development slope.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
WRD plans fresh round of evictions along Cooum, Adyar rivers and Buckingham canal
CHENNAI: In line with Madras High Court directions, another round of evictions is likely along the Cooum and Adyar rivers, and the Buckingham canal. This eviction drive will also include families residing along the Cooum who were allotted land under the World Bank-funded MUDP scheme. The Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) had told the court that though allotments were made by the board, sale deeds have not been issued to the beneficiaries as the land under the scheme have not yet been transferred to the board so far. TNUHDB said the scheme area remains with the Public Works Department. The order by Justice GR Swaminathan stated, when the area occupied by the petitioners is a waterbody, they have to vacate it and the only remedy they can seek is alternative accommodation. 'The high court has been constantly directing us to restore Chennai rivers and Buckingham Canal after removing the encroachments. But we are not sure if we will be able to resettle encroachers within the deadline given to us,' a senior WRD official told TNIE. The official said that out of 15,526 families living in 60 habitations along the Cooum river, 14,121 families from 52 habitations have already been relocated till April this year. 'Efforts are on to shift the remaining families,' he said. As for the Adyar river, out of 9,539 identified encroachments, only 4,728 locations have been cleared so far. In another order earlier this month, Justice Swaminathan directed TNUHDB to carry out an enumeration of families at Srinivasapuram in Pattinampakkam and evict them within eight weeks, and provide them alternate housing arrangements. The court called the settlement an 'illegal extension' of TNUHDB habitation in the area constructed between 1970 and 1977 in the Adyar creek and on the coastline. Another official pointed out that a feasibility report costing Rs 3.87 crore has been submitted for the demarcation of the Adyar, Cooum, and Buckingham Canal using Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), under the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust (CRRT) fund. 'In addition, CRRT has approved Rs 11.93 crore for boundary demarcation works along the Buckingham Canal, and the work is already underway,' he said. 'We believe once the government releases funds, the remaining work can be taken up quickly,' an official noted. M Janaki, chief engineer of WRD (Chennai region), refused to comment on the issue.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
WRD to restore 100 waterbodies in TN; Centre to tag them ‘encroachment-free'
1 2 Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department (WRD) will restore 100 water bodies, 11 in the Chennai region and 89 in the Madurai region, with 111 crore funding under the Union govt's Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The project will be completed with the union govt issuing "encroachment-free" tags for the water bodies. The state govt applied for funds under the scheme in 2023, and they received the funds only now. The WRD has given administrative and financial sanction to execute the project. According to a govt order, the union govt will provide 60% of the funding, while the state will bear the remaining 40%. S Kala, WRD chief engineer of the design, support and construction department, said each tank will receive around 1.5 crore for desilting, bund strengthening, creating bird islands, and plugging sewage. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "The 11 tanks in the city are in the suburbs like Tambaram, Thalambur, and upstream areas like Chengalpet and Thiruvallur," she said, adding that the project will begin by the end of this year and will be completed by December 2026. The WRD has begun joint surveys with the revenue department to demarcate the boundaries and issue eviction notices within 14 days. Most tanks range from 50 hectares to a maximum size of 165 hectares. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like CVS Is Silent About This 87¢ ED Med – Here's the Truth Health Alliance by Friday Plans Learn More Undo The Madurai region covers about four districts, including Kallakuruchi, Madurai, Sivagangai, and Ramanathapuram. Tanks in Kallakuruchi proposed for restoration are in Thyagadurgam, Kallakuruchi, and Thirunavalur, while in Sivagangai, tanks in Kallal, Sakkotai, and Devakottai will be restored. In Madurai, core area tanks will be focused on, while in Ramanathapuram, tanks in RS Mangalam, Nainorkovil, Thiruvadanai, and Mudakaluthur will be restored. Officials said they identified all the localised flooding hotspots during the last five years' rain and narrowed it down to these water bodies. Kala said once the encroachments are removed, they will apply for the "encroachment-free" tag. "Officials from the Ministry of Jal Shakti will inspect the tanks and give the certificate," she added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Divar bundh set to finally be fixed, will stave off flooding
Panaji: The water resources department (WRD) is finally set to repair a damaged bundh at Navelim, Divar. The bundh was in a dilapidated condition, with mangroves growing around the existing structure. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) recently issued an NOC for the strengthening of the bundh, provided its width was not increased and the mangroves in the land were not disturbed. Most of the bundh falls in the no-development zone of the Mandovi river, and the land falls within the mangrove buffer zone and khazan area as per Goa's Coastal Zone Management Plan, 2011. The age-old bundh system, dating back to the pre-Portuguese era, is meant to help make farming possible near saline estuarine areas. The maintenance of mud bundhs is a major challenge for the WRD, which is on the lookout for a viable solution. Concrete bundhs were opposed by the Goa State Biodiversity Board, stating that they can prove detrimental to the ecosystem and may adversely affect many species. Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar once proposed the use of vinyl sheet piling as a new-age solution to the concrete bundhs that were being constructed at the time by the WRD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read More Undo Most of Divar's khazan lands were once very productive granaries of food. However, breached bundhs, particularly in areas like Malar and Goltim-Navelim, have been a recurring issue, causing flooding of paddy fields and threatening crops due to saline water ingress from the Mandovi river. This problem often worsens during heavy rain and the weakening of ancient khazan systems, leading to significant losses for farmers and concerns for residential areas as well.
