Kaleshwaram project: Opposition parties in Telangana attend meet, discuss lapses

The meeting also questioned the state government’s move of shifting the project from Tummadihatti to Medigadda.
Kaleshwaram project: Opposition parties in Telangana attend meet, discuss lapses
Kaleshwaram project: Opposition parties in Telangana attend meet, discuss lapses
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Leaders of all opposition parties in Telangana attended a round table conference of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) and discussed the ruling-TRS government's decisions over redesigning the Kaleshwaran irrigation project.  

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President N Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the project began work on “a bogus Detailed Project Report (DPR)" aimed at looting the wealth of the people.

He also questioned the state government’s move of shifting the project from Tummadihatti to Medigadda.

“The shifting was done with ulterior motives. It is a huge mistake. Nearly Rs 1 lakh crore of public money has been wasted through a bogus DPR which openly lied on the availability of water and other factors,” Uttam Kumar was quoted as saying.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Telangana president L. Ramana and Telangana Jana Samiti chief M Kodandaram were others who were present at the meeting.   

Kodandaram suggested that an all party delegation must seek an appointment with the Governor to highlight the lapses.

Last week, in a major move that provided relief to the Telangana government, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed two petitions that were filed against the state's Kaleshwaram project. 

Speaking to reporters after the NGT verdict, Telangana Irrigation Minister Harish Rao said that it was another slap to those, including opposition parties, who were opposing the project since its conception.

In December last year, the Kaleshwaram project, being built across Godavari River in Telangana, received environmental clearance from the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry, it was announced.

Being built at a cost of about Rs 80,499 crore, the project will divert 180 TMC of water to irrigate 7.38 lakh hectares.

It envisages construction of a barrage near Medigadda village in Karimnagar district to irrigate the land in seven districts. Proposed to be completed in three years, it is also expected to stabilise the existing command area of 7.62 lakh hectares.

The project also proposes to provide drinking water facility for Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities. It required about 32,000 hectares of land out of which 2,866 hectares is forest land.

IANS inputs

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