Harish to pitch for more Central funds

Hyderabad:  Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao on Wednesday directed the officials submit utilisation certificates for the irrigation projects for which sanctions were accorded by the Centre. This would enable the State to get more Central funds for the projects, he explained. 

At a high-level meeting on irrigation projects at Jala Soudha here, Harish Rao said Telangana State was assured of  Rs 1,000 crore under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchay Yojana (PMKSY) scheme this year . He urged the officials to pay attention to getting adequate funds by submitting utilisation certificates to the Centre. 

He also set the deadline for the completion of  all pending projects-  Bheema, Nilwayi, and Komaram Bheem projects by June and Gollavagu (March),  Palem Vagu by May, and Devadula and SRSP flood flow canal by June 2019.

Before leaving for New Delhi to attend national level meeting on irrigation projects and related issues to be chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday, the Minister reviewed in detail the progress in  11 projects covered under PMKSY.     

Harish Rao said he would appeal to the Union Minister to release funds on time to enable the State government to complete the projects on schedule. He also asked the officials to clear hurdles for acquiring land for the projects and focus on  rehabilitation of  the affected families or farmers.