Panel set up to probe charges against PRLIS

Hyderabad: The State government on Tuesday constituted a committee to probe into the charges of acquisition of forest area for construction of Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).

“In case of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project, the then District Collector, Mahbubnagar had handed over certain parcel of land to I&CAD Department to carry out the work of Palamuru-Ranga Reddy project.

Subsequently, the Forest Department had claimed that the said land was forest land. This matter also came up for discussion in Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) meeting held on July 20 in New Delhi. It has been felt that there is lack of clarity at ground level regarding the classification of the said land.

Unless a thorough verification of the records and identification at ground level is made, it would be improper to fix responsibility on alleged violations in the said forest areas,” said Special Chief Secretary Dr SK Joshi in an order issued here on Tuesday.

Therefore, the State government had constituted a four-member committee to probe into the allegations. The committee will be headed by Principal Secretary to Government, E, F,S& T Department as its Chairman while Joint Collector, Nagarkurnool and Superintending Engineer, PRLIS, Nagarkurnool will be the members and Divisional Forest Officer, Nagarkurnool will be Member Secretary.

The Committee has been asked to submit its enquiry report to the government within 15 days.