Kaleshwaram is not eligible for National Project Status: Centre
According to Bishweswar Tudu, for inclusion of a project for the funding under NP scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, it is required to be first be appraised by the Central Water Commission.
Hyderabad: The Union government has made it clear that the Telangana’s prestigious Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is not eligible for inclusion under the National Project (NP) status in the absence of investment clearance.
Giving the reply to a question asked by Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy, who sought an information whether the Union government has received any proposal from Telangana government to declare any irrigation project as national project, Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Bishweswar Tudu said that in February, 2016 as well as in December, 2018, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Kaleshwaram project under NP scheme.
However, in absence of investment clearance, the project is not eligible for inclusion under the NP scheme, the Union Minister said.
According to Bishweswar Tudu, for inclusion of a project for the funding under NP scheme of the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), it is required to be first be appraised by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and accepted by the Advisory Committee.
Thereafter, investment clearance is required to be obtained by the State government. Subsequently, if the project meets the laid down norms for the NP scheme, it is required to be considered by the High Powered Steering Committee (HPSC) set up for the purpose.
On being recommended by HPSC, and as per availability of funds etc., the Central government may approve inclusion of a project under the NP scheme.
Giving the reply to another question, the Union Minister also said the State governments in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have not handed over the jurisdiction of Krishna basin projects as specified in Schedule –II of notification to Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
However, the Water Resources and Energy Departments in October 2021 issued orders for handling over certain components of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar project mentioned in Schedule-2 of the notification under their control to KRMB simultaneously with handing over of components under the control of Telangana.
No order has been issued by the Telangana government for handing over of the projects or components under their control, Tudu added.
