Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has said that the Telangana Government was against the Polavaram-Banakacharla project being planned by the Andhra Pradesh government. The minister met with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil in New Delhi and requested that the Centre stop giving permissions to the project. Uttam informed the Union Minister that the Andhra Pradesh government was changing the project name and seeking the Centre’s permission again. “Maharashtra and Karnataka are also opposing this project,” the minister said, adding that he demanded Patil not to give permission to Andhra Pradesh to construct the project.
The Irrigation Minister also said that the state government was demanding 45 TMC of water to be allocated immediately for the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme.
Clearance to the Samkakka-Sarakka project and pending Krishna water allocations as per the Brijesh Tribunal (Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-2) were also discussed during the meeting with the Union Minister. The Irrigation Minister also lodged a complaint with Patil against Karnataka for increasing the Almatti Dam height. “There is a stay in the Supreme Court that the height of Almatti Dam should not be increased beyond 519 metres. While this stay is in place, the Karnataka government has taken a cabinet decision, issued a GO, and started proceedings for land acquisition to increase the height. We have brought this matter to the attention of the Central Government. This is against the law, we have requested you as the Central Government to also tell the Karnataka Government. If the height of Almatti Dam is increased, injustice will be done to Telangana. That is why we are opposing this,” the Minister explained.
The minister also sought Central assistance to complete the projects and provide funds for the Pranahita-Chevella project, Narayanpet-Kodangal project, Sitarama project, Palamuru-Ranga Reddy lift irrigation scheme, Chinna Kaleshwaram lift irrigation scheme and ModikuntaVagu projects.
