PRLIS not under consideration for national project status, Centre

The Centre has said the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme is not under consideration for national project status due to unresolved inter-State issues over Krishna river waters. Its DPR was returned to Telangana for holistic planning to achieve intended benefits

Hyderabad: The Centre has made it clear that the Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) is not under consideration for national project status. The union government said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of PRLIS had been received by the Central Water Commission (CWC), but its techno-economic appraisal could not be taken up due to unresolved inter-State issues over the utilisation of Krishna river waters.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Monday, union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the inter-State aspects of the project formed part of the terms of reference of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II and the matter was sub-judice. Technical examination by the CWC, followed by techno-economic appraisal by the Advisory Committee of the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, was a prerequisite for considering the project for Central assistance under the ongoing schemes.

---

The DPR has consequently been returned to the Telangana government with a request for holistic planning to achieve the intended benefits of the entire PRLIS.

The Centre also clarified that no final decision had been taken on providing Central assistance to the project.

Responding to a question on the criteria for according national project status, the Minister said the guidelines under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana–Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme and National Projects specify the parameters. Such status is mainly accorded to projects of national importance involving inter-State or international water issues or those creating or restoring significant irrigation potential.

The response comes amid Telangana’s efforts to secure greater Central support for PRLIS, a major lift irrigation project intended to address irrigation and related water requirements in the drought-prone districts of southern Telangana.

The previous BRS government obtained all clearances except hydrology. Following the Supreme Court’s judgment on environmental clearance procedures, seven irrigation projects in Telangana, including PRLIS, are now poised to get environmental clearances as well.