Harish Rao meets Union ministers in Delhi

Major Irrigation minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday has met Union Ministers Uma Bharathi, Nirmala Sitharaman, Nitin Gadkari and Radhamohan at Delhi and took several issues of the state to their notice.

He discussed pending issues of irrigation projects, marketing, agriculture and industries with the Union Ministers and submitted memorandums with the demands and requests of the state. In his interaction with the Union Water Resources minister Uma Bharathi, at the meeting on Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana, Harish complained that there was no relation between the reports and the facts about the Krishna water usage from Pothireddypadu project by the AP government on Krishna River.

He made it clear that the calculation of inflows and outflows should be corrected. He wanted appointment of joint committee of officials of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the projects on Krishna River till the telemetry machines were installed. The Brijesh Kumar Tribunal should determine the share of water of Krishna River project wise. The water is shared on temporary basis from the past two years. Harish Rao submitted a memorandum to Uma Bharathi on the issues to be discussed in the Chief Ministers meeting at Delhi.

He wanted that Pattiseema, due share of water to Telangana from Krishna and Godavari Rivers, and Pothireddipadu should be discussed in that meet. He said that the inability of Krishna River Management Board should also be discussed. The state government officials have signed MoUs with NABARD for availing Rs 7,000 crores for the irrigation



projects as the Centre has given its nod for NABARD assistance to about 11 projects of the state.

While hailing the Centre’s gesture, the Harish said that as funds were not given to the projects in the past their implementation did not progress. He said that it was good omen to see that NABARD is allowed to help the states. He said that the Telangana would immensely benefitted by the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana. He said that proposals for granting Rs 7,000 crores for 11 projects have been sent to the Centre. He said that Rs 2,000 crore has been asked as grants.

The minister said that the Centre promised to release the amount by September of this year. The state governments were also appreciative of the decision of the Centre to provide the support till the irrigation facilities are created through the canals after the construction of the projects. States would be given 15 years to repay the loans to the NABARD. On the other hand the Centre has entered into an agreement with the NABARD on providing financial support to 99 irrigation projects in the country in the PMKSY meeting.

This would pave way for the construction of irrigation projects in several states. As much as Rs 77,595 crores would be spent in the next four years with Centre’s share of 60 per cent, states’ share of 40 per cent to complete the projects. These projects would be completed in three phases. In the first phase about 23 projects would be completed in this financial year, 31 in the second phase in 2017-18 and 45 in the third phase by end of 2019.