HYDERABAD: Telangana has filed an affidavit in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) requesting to continue the drinking water component of the Palamuru Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme (PRLIS).
The state government contended that fluoride issue in Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar affects the lives of people who lack drinking water supply.
PRLIS envisages lifting 90 tmc of floodwater in 60 days during the flood season from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir on Krishna river at Yellur in Kollapur mandal in erstwhile Mahbubnagar district through five separate stages.
Special chief secretary, irrigation, Rajat Kumar said these five stages comprise a reservoir and canals/tunnels between each reservoir for taking the water forward. “The ultimate objective of PRLIS is to implement irrigation infrastructure in phase II on the foundation of the presently envisaged drinking water components under phase I. PRLIS, as currently planned, has no provision for irrigation. PRLIS has been commenced only to alleviate the misery of drought-prone areas to benefit 1,226 villages where about 50 lakh people will get water,” he said.
He said the project was extremely important as there was a tremendous shortage of drinking and farm water in Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts. “These are fluoride-affected areas. Due to high fluoride content in the drinking water, a large part of the population in these districts is migrating to other parts of the state and country. Drought-like conditions are also causing social problems in the districts,” he said.
The project proponent to continue with ongoing works is subject to obtaining environmental clearance in six months. “Project work has been commenced in 2016 and several contracts have been awarded for executing the works relating to drinking water,” Kumar said.
PRLIS envisages lifting 90 tmc of floodwater in 60 days during the flood season from the foreshore of Srisailam reservoir on Krishna river at Yellur.
