TS govt told to file affidavit on design change in PRLI project

The High Court at Hyderabad on Tuesday directed the Telangana State government to file a counter affidavit to the public interest litigation petition filed by former Minister and BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy challenging the decision of the government to change the design of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project despite many experts warning against it.

The court also asked the government to clarify whether it has denuded the forest cover without getting required clearances.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A Shankar Narayana admitted the PIL and asked the government to file a counter affidavit within four weeks clarifying these issues.

The counsel for the petitioner B Rachna Reddy informed the bench that the government had allowed the change of design for Anjanagiri-Narlapoor Balancing Reservoir from an open cut pump house to an underground pump house at the instance of a private contractor firm that was awarded the works in that package.

She pointed out that the Advisor to Telangana State government on irrigation projects R Vidyasagar Rao himself had, in a written note, expressed his opinion against such a change in design.

She also said with the change in design, the pump house is now being built within 300 metres from the existing Kalwakurthy Lift Irrigation canal, which would pose a threat to it.

She also alleged that much of the forest cover in the region was denuded by the government without getting required clearances from Environmental ministry.

Advocate General K Ramakrishna Reddy countered the arguments by saying that the decision to go for change in design was prompted by the desire to avoid denuding of forest land, which would be the case if they went for an open cut pump house.

He also said earlier the government thought that it was government land and went ahead in removing the trees but later it was pointed out that the lands belonged to Forest Department.

Therefore there was a change in design despite increase in expenditure to the tune of Rs 600 to Rs 800 crore. The bench directed to place all these aspects in the form of a counter affidavit.