Centre returning PRLIS DPR under pressure from AP, alleges Niranjan Reddy
Former Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy alleged that the Centre’s decision to return the PRLIS DPR was part of a conspiracy against Telangana’s interests. He accused the Centre of acting under pressure from Andhra Pradesh and urged immediate approval
Hyderabad: Former Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy termed the Centre’s decision to return the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) as part of a conspiracy against Telangana’s interests. He alleged that the Centre returned the DPR under pressure from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu despite public hearings and environmental clearances having been completed.
In a statement, Niranjan Reddy pointed out that the DPR was submitted to the Centre soon after Telangana was formed. He said nearly 99 per cent of the approvals had been secured, barring hydrology clearances involving water allocations. He alleged that the BJP, TDP and Congress were acting against the interests of the Palamuru region.
He questioned the timing of the decision, particularly with the second Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-II) expected to finalise water allocations. He alleged that returning the DPR could pave the way for the project to be excluded from future water-allocation discussions.
Niranjan Reddy urged the Congress government and BJP leaders from Telangana to press the Centre for approval of the DPR. He also alleged that the Congress government was compromising Telangana’s water interests by appointing Andhra Pradesh officials as advisers.
He warned that failure to reconsider and approve the DPR after examination would trigger a public movement. He said the Congress government and political leaders would have to answer for their handling of the project and the State’s water rights.
