HYDERABAD: In a major relief to the state government, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) recommended for scoping/Terms of Reference (ToR) clearance for three irrigation projects-Pranahita, Kanthanpally and Kaleshwaram.
However, there is a rider for Kanthanpally and Kaleshwaram. For these two projects, the state should get in-principle clearance from Central Water Commission.
The EAC of the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoEF) granted scoping/TOR clearance for Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita Project in Adilabad district.
The third meeting of the EAC for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects was conducted on March 2 and 3 in Delhi and its decisions were made public on Tuesday.
The committee mentioned that the data already collected could be utilised for preparation EIA/EMP report, if data collected is not older than three years. The public hearing has to be conducted again as per the provisions of EIA Notification, 2006.
The EAC also recommended additional ToR for Pranahita project which included practice of conjunctive irrigation, which will increase the water availability, thereby increasing the irrigation potential.
The EAC also recommended scoping/ToR clearance for PV Narasimha Rao Kanthanpally Sujala Sravanthi Project in Warangal district.
The committee also suggested for ToR that recycle water be used/utilised for industries and horticultural purpose. The irrigation efficiency should also be worked out during the study.
The project envisages stabilisation of existing Devadula LIS of command area of about 2.5 lakh hectares by constructing a barrage across river Godavari near the confluence with river Indravati. The performance report of the LIS may also be prepared based on the ground realities.
The committee also suggested for the study that, “The arguments, viz. need for providing employment to large number of people who are residing in rural areas and dependent on agriculture, overlooking the norms of benefit-cost ratio in light of erratic changes in the prices of agricultural produce, supplying water to agricultural lands at high altitudes, achieving self sufficiency to the state in food grains and so on in justification may not be tenable in the context of economic returns/improving the economy of the state. Water is not a solution everywhere”.
The EAC also noted that since the land acquisition is involved, people whose land is acquired for the project shall be suitably compensated in accordance with the law of the land and the prevailing guidelines”.
Palamuru-Rangareddy: The EAC did not consider the proposal for scoping/ToR clerance for Palamuru-Rangareddy at the meeting, as the proposal was withdrawn.