NGT Reserves Verdict On Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Chennai today heard the case of the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project of Andhra Pradesh, being opposed stiffly by the Telangana government, and reserved its judgement.

Representing the Telangana government, advocate G Srinivas argued that the AP government had violated the bifurcation act. He contended that the AP government had doubled its intake from 40,000 cusecs to 80,000 cusecs for the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project against the river water norms. The plan to draw 8 TMC a day was totally uncalled for, and the tribunal stay it, he said.

Srinivas added that the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project and others being proposed would do injustice to several districts in Telangana.

The advocate representing the AP government, Venkataramani, said that the Rayalaseema lift project was an old one and not new. She also said that the AP government planned to draw only its share of waters and not more. She urged the tribunal to therefore close the case.

Hearing the arguments of both the sides, the tribunal quoted the union water resources ministry comments on the issue of sharing of waters between two states. It then reserved its judgement, and is expected to give its verdict in about a week.