By M Somasekhar
With the Centre assuring funding and according national project status to Polavaram in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana State has joined issue with a demand for a similar treatment of Kaleshwaram irrigation project.
The Telangana State minister for irrigation, T Harish Rao voiced the demand along with special incentives for industrial growth and special railway zone for Kazipet, as part of what he described as the just needs post bifurcation of the erstwhile AP. The minister got support from Bandaru Dattatreya, the Union minister for Labour & Employment as far as the Kaleshwaram project is concerned. Dattatreya said, the state unit of BJP party would soon meet the Prime Minister and request him to accord National project status to Kaleshwaram project. The Godavari has abundant water and the projects have to be completed in phased manner and planned approach in time, he added.
The Kaleshwaram project is one of the two components of the redesigned Pranahita-Chevella project. After due design changes, the project seeks to create an irrigation potential of 18.2 lakh acres in addition to stabilising another 11.8 lakh acres of existing ayacut. Besides, it proposes to meeting 30 tmc ft drinking water needs of Hyderabad, 10 tmc ft to villages en route and 16 tmc ft for industrial needs.
CMs meeting
Referring to the upcoming meeting of the Chief Ministers of Telangana and AP on September 21 under the Apex Board to be chaired by Union Minister Uma Bharati, Dattaraya stated that the meeting was important to accelerate projects in the two states and keep the budgets under control. Earlier, he held discussions with Harish Rao and Vedire Sri Ram, Advisor, Ministry of Water Resources in the City on various aspects of irrigation projects. The two CMs are expected to discuss ticklish issues surrounding the irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari Rivers and find amicable settlement of disputes between two Telugu states that have arisen out of the AP Reorganisation Act.
Source: The Hindu