Uttam sets six-month target for environmental clearances for four irrigation projects
HYDERABAD: Irrigation and Civil Supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday directed officials to make a focused, time-bound push to secure pending environmental clearances for four major irrigation projects Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS), Sitarama, Dindi and Gouravelli.
At a high-level review meeting on August 3, Uttam set a six-month target for securing project-specific environmental clearances wherever feasible and subject to statutory procedures.
He said the recent Supreme Court judgment on environmental-clearance procedures had provided clarity on projects with valid clearances, pending applications, rejected proposals and applications seeking post-facto approval.
Uttam directed officials to pursue every eligible case expeditiously with the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change and other statutory authorities.
Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar and MP Balaram Naik were among those who attended the meeting.
Citing the Supreme Court judgment, Uttam said projects possessing valid environmental clearances granted earlier would continue to remain protected, while pending applications could be processed in accordance with the court’s directions.
He said proposals rejected earlier should be examined project-wise and resubmitted, wherever legally permissible, after rectifying technical and procedural deficiencies.
Uttam said the judgment, which could have implications for environmental clearances of projects across the country, followed Telangana’s sustained legal efforts to secure clearances for its irrigation projects.
Officials given 7-day, 30-day and 60-day deadlines
The minister directed the irrigation department to strengthen its Inter-State Wing with adequate technical, environmental and legal expertise. The wing should pursue clearances and protect Telangana’s interests before the Union government, National Green Tribunal (NGT), Supreme Court and other statutory and judicial forums, he said.
Uttam prescribed a phased roadmap for processing the clearances. Nodal officers should be designated and all available records consolidated within seven days.
Updated environmental studies, compliance reports, land records and legal documents should be completed within 30 days. The principal administrative and application-processing stages should be concluded within 60 days.
The government would aim to secure project-specific environmental clearances within six months, wherever feasible and subject to statutory procedures. Officials were directed to submit weekly progress reports, while senior officials would review the cases every month.
Uttam said there could be no laxity in preparing environmental-impact studies, rehabilitation and resettlement plans, forest-clearance documents, land-acquisition records and counter-affidavits required for court proceedings.
Officials should have the complete history of every project, including its original clearance, subsequent changes in scope, redesign, expansion or relocation, pending applications, court cases, compliance requirements and penalties, if any, he said.
The minister said environmental, forest, rehabilitation, land-acquisition and compensation issues should be addressed before significant alterations were made to project designs. Compliance was necessary to avoid litigation and protect the interests of farmers, landowners and project-affected families, he added.
Gouravelli pump house, canal network to be readied
Reviewing the Gouravelli project, Uttam directed engineers to immediately take steps to keep the pump house fully operational.
Officials were told to carry out inspections, testing and repairs and follow the prescribed standard operating procedures well before the pump house was put to use.
Engineering teams should inspect the entire left and right canal systems, identify obstacles to the free flow of water and prepare estimates for essential works.
The inspections should cover incomplete excavation, bund-cutting requirements, water-release points, village connectivity, road crossings and bridges required to maintain uninterrupted public access.
Uttam said the immediate priority was to remove critical bottlenecks and make the principal canal network capable of carrying water at the earliest.
On the Sitarama project, he directed the department to update the required studies and environmental documentation without delay.
Engineering plans for the packages of works should be kept ready so that work could resume immediately after the required clearance or permission was obtained.
Similar urgency should be shown in pursuing clearances for PRLIS and Dindi, he said. Each project should have a dedicated team responsible for documentation, coordination with Union government authorities and follow-up of pending legal proceedings.
Uttam also directed departmental officers to coordinate closely with the state’s legal advisers, the Additional Advocate General and senior counsel appearing before the NGT and Supreme Court.
All pending environmental cases concerning irrigation projects should be reviewed individually. Compliance reports, technical records, environmental documentation and counter-affidavits should be prepared in advance, he said.
Advocate Shravan Kumar, who is leading the state team pursuing environmental clearances, briefed the meeting on environmental-clearance litigation and the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment.
Uttam directed the legal team and departmental officers to prepare a project-wise action plan based on the principles laid down by the court and any subsequent directions issued by the Union government.
The meeting also reviewed the possible impact of Polavaram backwaters on areas in Telangana.
Uttam directed officials to take pre-emptive measures and conduct a scientific assessment to determine the possible submergence of land, habitations, public infrastructure and other assets.
He said Telangana’s claims should be backed by credible field data, technical studies and properly documented financial assessments. The matter should be pursued with the Government of India, Polavaram Project Authority and other agencies concerned, he said.
Revenue minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy said the state should assess the impact of Polavaram backwaters on the erstwhile Khammam district well before Andhra Pradesh completes the Godavari project and makes it fully operational.
The meeting said compensation for land, infrastructure and other assets affected by Polavaram submergence or backwater impact was the responsibility of the appropriate Central authorities.
Uttam directed the department to convene coordination meetings, complete pending assessments and formally place Telangana’s claims before the competent forums.
Engineer-in-Chief (General) O V Ramesh Babu, joint secretary Srinivas, Engineer-in-Chief (Administration) P Srinivas and Engineer-in-Chief (Operations and Maintenance) R Madhudhan Rao were among those who attended the meeting.
