CM KCR hails environmental clearances for Kaleshwam project

Hyderabad : Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has hailed over the Kaleswaram project getting the environmental clearances.

The Chief Minister described it is a great news for the Telangana people as the Kaleswaram project had already secured the forest clearances for the phase I and II and now the key environmental clearance. He felt that by getting the environmental clearances, the project has reached a milestone. He asked the irrigation department officials to take a positive note of the environmental clearances and work with double vigour. He wanted the project should be completed on a fast track to remove the suffering that was endured for decades for want of water.

KCR has congratulated Minister T Harish Rao, Irrigation and Forest officials for getting the clearances. He has instructed that the environmental clearances issue should be informed to the ground level officials and ensure that there are no obstacles to the ongoing works.

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on the irrigation projects met in New Delhi on December 5 and held in-depth discussions on the Major Irrigation project being taken up by the Telangana Government, the Kaleswaram project. It expressed satisfaction over the project report prepared by the Telangana government. It has cleared that there is no danger to the environment due to this project. It also made it clear that it has no objections to the construction of Barrages; pump houses, canals as part of the project. The Minutes of the meeting are released on Monday. The government has acquired 3100 Hectares of the forest land and showed an alternative land elsewhere. The government also paid the money for growing the forest in the alternative land. To this, the forest department gave permissions to the first and second phases. Now by getting the environmental clearances, all the technical hurdles for the Kaleswaram Project have been cleared.

The Chief Minister held a meeting here at Pragati Bhavan on Monday, following the Kaleswaram project getting the environmental clearances in which Minister Harish Rao, Engineer-in-Chief Muralidhar, Kaleswaram Project CE Venkateshwarlu, Central Designs Organization’s CE A Narender Reddy, CMO Secretary Smita Sabharwal, Representatives of the L&T, Mega participated.

“We have redesigned the projects to draw more water from the places where the more availability of water and to utilise at the optimal levels our share of water in the rivers. Of these, Kaleswaram is an important project. Through this project in the old seven districts, 70% water for irrigation and drinking water will be supplied. Officials, engineers, representatives of the working agencies are working day and night to complete the project. From the government side we are making attempts to get the technical clearances from time to time. Forest department officials have worked hard to get forest and environmental clearances. Congratulations and one and all. With the inspiration drawn from the environmental clearances, works should be executed with double vigour," the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said there was no dearth of funds for the projects. "Land acquisition is also going on at a fast pace. Important clearances have come. Speed up the works as the funds and clearances are ready. Work for 365 days with three shifts. Get clarity on what works should be taken up when the monsoon hits during the month of June, floods to Godavari River, from June to October, October to December. Draw up a daily schedule now and execute works accordingly. Harish will visit the project site once in ten days and I will visit once in a month and the officials should monitor the works regularly,” he said.