State urges Centre not to give nod to T’s irrigation scheme

Vijayawada: The state government has urged the Centre not to give final clearances to the controversial Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) as the Supreme Court had allowed Telangana only to complete drinking water portion utilising about 7.5 tmc ft. The state contended that taking 90 tmc ft from the Krishna basin was the violation of previous tribunal awards.The AP government reiterated that Telangana’s decision to allocate 90 tmc from 75% dependable flows in the Krishna basin stating that there is an underutilisation in minor irrigation to an extent of 45.66 tmc in the Krishna basin of Telangana and it would get 45 tmc share from the Krishna on account of transfer of 80 tmc Godavari water from Polavaram to Prakasam Barrage. AP said that water allocation to PRLIS was in violation of KWDT award. It said that it will have negative impact on the projects of lowest riparian state of AP and hence cannot be taken as criteria for according any necessary clearances or appraisal of DPR or approvals for PR LIS without taking into consideration the objections of the state of AP which are already communicated.AP referred to the Supreme Court judgment of February which granted a limited stay in respect of penalty imposed by the NGT for unauthorised construction as well as for wilful and deliberate violation of interim order of NGT.AP that the Supreme Court directed Telangana not to continue construction of infrastructure project except for providing drinking water to enroute villages to the extent of 7.15 tmc.“The other findings of NGT have not been suspended by the Supreme Court,” said the AP government.It further reminded that KWDT-II said that while disposing AP’s petition: “If the new projects which are being undertaken after coming into force Act No. 6 of 2014 would be a subject matter or dispute to be dealt with under the regime of Act No.6 of 2014, it could not be a subject matter within the jurisdiction of this tribunal within the scope of Section 89(a) of Act No.6 of 2014. More so, where no allocation had been made earlier for PR LIS by any of the tribunals constituted under Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. A water dispute tribunal cannot by itself entertain any dispute which would not be the subject matter of the reference to it.’’AP said that the tribunal has allowed the government to approach any other forum for relief as may be permissible under the law. It said that it is clear that the KWDT-II (E) has wisely defined PR LIS as a new project contemplated by Telangana after bifurcation, which doesn’t have allocation of water by any tribunals or agreements. AP requested the Centre not to take any final call without taking their objections into consideration with regard to PRLIS.
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