Telangana High Court Rubbishes Kaleshwaram PIL

The Telangana High Court today declined to hear a PIL filed on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP).

The petition sought to challenge the decision redesign certain parts of the KLIP.

Convenor of the Telangana Engineers Forum Donthula Laxminarayana had filed the PIL to oppose the decision to transport water from the KLIP using a new pilot line system.

In his petition, he told the HC that the plan to transport 3 tmc of water through the new pumping system would force the state government to spend an additional Rs 8,000 crore on the project, and would also saddle the government with an additional annual maintenance cost of Rs 10,000.

He also said that the redesign would lead to problems of land acquisition and electricity supply to the project.

Laxminarayana pointed out that the government did not have any right to take up any new projects without first obtaining permission from the Central Water Commission.

"The implementation of the old system would is much better. It will not only save public money, it is also a more viable system of water transportation," he said.

He then urged the HC to issue the relevant orders to stay the state government's plans to redesign the project.

The petitioner approached the court after the Supreme Court declined to entertain his petition against the redesign.