Today an application was filed before the National Green Tribunal by farmers from Rayalseema, Prakasam, Guntur, and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh against the ongoing Palamuru Lift Irrigation Project of the Government of Telangana.
Senior Counsel Mr.P.S.Raman appearing for the farmers had brought to the notice of the Tribunal that the Telangana Government was proceeding with construction of the Irrigation project despite earlier undertakings that the same would be limited only to supply of drinking water until Environmental Clearance is obtained.
After hearing P.S.Raman the Tribunal agreed to constitute a committee to examine the ongoing project and to furnish a report as to whether the ongoing construction is compliant with the E.I.A Notification and other extant laws.
The matter is again listed on 29th August 2021.
What is Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Project
The Palarmuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme envisages lifting water through pumping from the foreshore of Srisailam Reservoir. It is located near Yellur of Kollapur Mandal in Nagarkurnool district. The water is then taken to KP Lakhsmireddy Pally reservoir being built at Shadnagar. It said that about 10 lakh acres would be brought under irrigation with Krishna water in Nagarkurnool, Mahabubnagar, Vikarabad, Narayanpet, Rangareddy, and Nalgonda district. It is also envisaged that the project would provide drinking water to a number of villages along with GHMC and many industries.
The Andhra Pradesh government, however, says the project is illegal and the Krishna water Tribunal award had not allocated water to the project.