NGT halts Rayalaseema lift irrigation scheme, constitutes a committee

In a major set back, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a stay order on the construction of lift irrigation scheme at Pothirddypadu head regulator to draw Krishna water from Srisailam to Rayalaseema. The decision was taken by forming a committee for the study of the proposed project while the committee is slated to submit the report within two months.

The committee is comprised of the Environment Ministry, PCB (Pollution Control Board) and Hyderabad IIT members. Also there will be a senior member of the Krishna River Management Board. Srinivas of Narayanpet filed a complaint with the NGT on the project. A bench headed by Justice Ramakrishnan held an inquiry and took the decision to this extent.

It is quite evident that the Andhra Pradesh government has issued GO 203 to work on increasing the capacity of the canal to 80 thousand cusecs by constructing lift irrigation scheme at Pothireddypadu to divert water from Srisailam water to Rayalaseema. The AP government has proposed the project at an estimated cost of Rs 7,000 crore. While the Telangana government has objected to this following which the Krishna River Management Board has asked AP to discontinue the project immediately. And now the NGT has issued stay.