The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : `Telangana's right over waters will be protected'

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Friday, Mar 23, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

`Telangana's right over waters will be protected'

Special Correspondent

215 tmcft water being tapped from Krishna, Godavari

HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah said the rights of Telangana over Krishna and Godavari waters for minor irrigation projects in the region will be protected at any cost.

At present 215 tmcft of water is being tapped from the two rivers for these projects in the region and status quo will be maintained, he said.

Replying to a query raised by G. Vijayarama Rao (TRS) in the Assembly on Thursday during question time, the Minister said Rs. 383 crores was spent to repair these minor projects.

To another question from P. Sudershan Reddy (Congress), the Minister said a meeting of MLAs would be held before the close of the budget session to evolve a plan to give a facelift to the irrigation system of Nizamsagar which received only 4 tmcft when the upstream Singur project released 8 tmcft to it.

Responding to D. Umamaheswara Rao (TDP), Mr. Lakshmaiah said all the three phases of Tarakarama Lift Irrigation scheme taken up for 56,000 acres in Krishna district, would be completed by 2008. Works relating to Phase II was being tendered.

Panchayat Raj Minister J. C. Diwakar Reddy promised K. Hariswar Reddy (TDP) that the reward of Rs. 5 lakhs each for panchayats whose bodies were elected unanimously in the elections would be released soon.

The amount required for the purpose is Rs. 145 crores, which would be mentioned in the Appropriation Bill to facilitate the release of funds.

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