Telangana Minister Uttam sets six-month target for irrigation projects’ environmental clearances
Hyderabad, Aug 3 (TNT): Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday directed officials to adopt a time-bound strategy to secure pending environmental clearances for four major irrigation projects in the wake of the recent Supreme Court judgment on environmental clearance procedures.
Chairing a high-level review meeting, the Minister instructed officials to expedite clearances for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Sitarama Sagar, Dindi and Gouravelli projects by pursuing eligible cases with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other statutory authorities.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and MP Balaram Naik attended the meeting.
Uttam said the Supreme Court judgment had clarified the legal position regarding projects with valid environmental clearances, pending applications, rejected proposals and applications seeking post-facto approvals, and directed officials to utilise the opportunity to pursue project clearances.
He instructed the Irrigation Department to strengthen its Inter-State Wing with adequate technical, environmental and legal expertise to safeguard Telangana’s interests before the Centre, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Supreme Court and other statutory forums.
The Minister prescribed a phased action plan, directing officials to appoint nodal officers and consolidate all project records within seven days, complete updated environmental studies, compliance reports and other documentation within 30 days, and finish administrative processing within 60 days.
He said the government would endeavour to secure project-specific environmental clearances within six months, wherever feasible, subject to statutory procedures, and directed officials to submit weekly progress reports and undergo monthly reviews.
Stressing the need for comprehensive documentation, Uttam directed officials to complete environmental impact assessments, rehabilitation and resettlement plans, forest clearance documents, land acquisition records and legal affidavits without delay.
Reviewing the Gouravelli project, he instructed engineers to make the pump house fully operational by undertaking inspections, testing and repairs, besides identifying bottlenecks in the canal network to facilitate early release of water.
On the Sitarama Sagar project, the Minister directed officials to update environmental studies and keep engineering plans ready so that work could resume immediately after obtaining statutory clearances.
He also called for similar urgency in pursuing clearances for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and Dindi project.
The Minister directed officials to coordinate closely with the State’s legal team handling cases before the NGT and Supreme Court and prepare project-wise action plans in line with the Supreme Court’s directions.
The meeting also reviewed the potential impact of Polavaram project backwaters on Telangana. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to undertake scientific studies to assess likely submergence of land, habitations and public infrastructure and prepare detailed documentation to support the state’s claims before the Centre and the Polavaram Project Authority.
Revenue Minister Ponguleti stressed the need to complete the assessment of the Polavaram backwater impact in the erstwhile Khammam district and pursue compensation claims for affected land, infrastructure and other assets with the appropriate authorities.
TNT TS
