By: V Rishi Kumar
In a big boost to the Telangana irrigation sector, the Centre has in-principle agreed to provide financial assistance to five irrigation projects under the AIBP (Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme) and the newly-launched Pradhan Manthri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), State Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao has said.
Speaking after attending the first meeting of the National Water Resources Coordination Committee constituted by the Centre to prepare a roadmap to complete pending irrigation projects identified across the country, Harish Rao said proposals for the execution of the five projects would be forwarded to the Ministry by March 11. He asserted the need to provide more funds for such projects.
The meeting was presided over by Minister for Water Resources Uma Bharati and the Committee Chairman Brij Mohan. Harish was one of the members of the committee.
Harish Rao in a statement said the Indiramma Flood Flow Canal, Rajiv Bheema, Jagnathpur, Komarmbheem and Palem Vagu projects would be included under AIBP and PMKSY this year and would be taken up on priority with Central assistance.
During the meeting, he requested Uma Bharati to increase the funding under AIBP to 60 per cent of the total cost of each project from 25 per cent currently. Allocations for projects in the extremism affected areas of Maharashtra, Telangana and Chhattisgarh were also discussed.
The Minister said the demand to increase the limits of the loans taken from Nabard for the construction of irrigation projects and the Centre and State’s share in the payment of loans were discussed.
He urged the Centre to usher in a single window system and speedy environmental clearances to tide over the abnormal increase in project costs due to the delay. The committee would hold a second meeting on March 21 where more issues related to irrigation projects would be discussed.
Source: The Hindu