BRS blames Congress government for return of DPR of Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme by Centre

HYDERABAD

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has blamed the Congress government in the State for the return of detailed project report (DPR) of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) recently without according necessary permissions and clearances, long after the project getting environmental and forest clearances during BRS rule and conduct of trial run of a pump house last year.

Party leader from combined Mahabubnagar district and former minister V. Srinivas Goud said the Centre (different Directorates of the Central Water Commission), had returned the DPR following a complaint made by Andhra Pradesh to the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal on the sourcing of 90 tmcft water intended to be lifted with the help of the project — 45 tmcft in lieu of Godavari water diversion to the Krishna Basin by A.P. and another 45 tmcft savings in the minor irrigation sector.

Addressing a press conference on Friday (December 27), he said the Centre had stopped three clearances to PRLIS following A.P.’s complaint made with a larger conspiracy to divert more water from Srisailam Reservoir to the non-basin areas in that State. He mentioned how as the Chief Minister of combined A.P. N. Chandrababu Naidu did nothing for improving the irrigation facilities and livelihoods to prevent distress migration even after adopting the district.

He sought to know from the State government when the PRLIS would be completed and suggested it to resolve the issues by talking to A.P. since Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was considered very close to his A.P. counterpart and mentor N. Chandrababu Naidu. If need be, the State government should lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to pursue the clearances for the project with the Centre, he said.