Priority environmental clearances for four irrigation projects: Uttam

metro india news  I hyderabad

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday directed officials to adopt a focused and time bound strategy to secure pending environmental clearances for four major irrigation projects, namely the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Sitarama Sagar, Dindi and Gouravelli. Chairing a high level review meeting, he said the recent Supreme Court judgment on environmental clearances had created a significant opportunity to expedite approvals through a legally sound approach.

The Minister instructed officials to take advantage of the Supreme Court's guidelines by pursuing eligible cases with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other statutory authorities. He said the judgment was the outcome of Telangana's sustained legal efforts and would have far reaching implications for irrigation projects across the country.

Uttam Kumar Reddy laid down a strict roadmap, directing officials to appoint nodal officers within seven days, complete all environmental studies, compliance reports and documentation within 30 days, and finish administrative processing within 60 days. The government aims to secure project specific environmental clearances within six months, wherever feasible. Weekly progress reports and monthly senior level reviews have also been mandated.

The Minister ordered the strengthening of the department's Inter State Wing with legal, technical and environmental expertise to effectively represent Telangana before the Union Government, National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court.

Reviewing the Gouravelli Project, he directed engineers to keep the pump house fully ready for operation and remove critical bottlenecks in the canal network. Similar preparedness was ordered for the Sitarama Sagar Project so that work could resume immediately after clearances are received. Dedicated teams will also monitor the progress of PRLIS and Dindi.

The meeting also reviewed the likely impact of Polavaram backwaters on Telangana. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to undertake scientific studies, complete detailed assessments of potential submergence and infrastructure losses, and present Telangana's claims before the Government of India and the Polavaram Project Authority with comprehensive technical and financial documentation. Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy stressed the need to complete these assessments well before the Polavaram Project becomes fully operational.