Persisting problems hit PRLIS hard

​Hyderabad: The prestigious Palamuru – Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS) is facing many problems and the works are moving at a slow pace.

The problems include objections from National Green Tribunal (NGT) on environmental grounds, land acquisition and demand from contractors to change the design of the project.

The PRLIS has been conceived to irrigate upland areas of Mahbubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda districts and provide drinking water to the people of Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts.

In a major setback, the NGT of Southern Zone (Chennai) recently instructed the State government to halt the works till January 17 and sought a report on the environmental impact of the project.

The petitioners argued that the project would have an adverse impact on the Tiger Reserve in the Nallamala forest area and the first phase of the project between Anjanagiri and Narlapur villages in the forest area of Mahbubnagar district was taken up without the required environmental clearances.

Based on the petition, the tribunal maintained that clearances under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, and Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act of the Ministry of Environment was mandatory for the projects that pass through Reserve Forest areas.

It also found fault with the government for not obtaining clearances from the Forests and Environment Department to acquire 279 hectares of forest land in the same area.

Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act said that the land cannot be used for non-forest purpose without prior permission from the Centre.

The officials of the State Irrigation Department told The Hans India that the government had only two options - one to approach the High Court challenging the tribunal direction and the second one to stop the works until the project got all clearances form the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Since the issue was sensitive, officials said the department wanted to review the impact of the project on the Reserve Forests with State Environment, Forest and Science and Technology Ministry.

The other major stumbling block is to acquire land. As per the project report, it requires 26,000 acres of land.

So far, the government could acquire only 15,000 acres due to various reasons including clearances from the Forest Department and the displaced are insisting on hefty compensation.

As the government was finding it difficult to procure land, contractors are insisting for changes in the project design.

But the government is not in a mood to change the designs as it feels that the very purpose of the project would be defeated if changes in the design are made.