HYDERABAD: Irrigation minister T Harish Rao has demanded that the Central Water Commission (CWC) should expedite the process of giving clearances to the state projects.
He was participating in the two-day Jala Manthan meeting organised by the Union water resources ministry to discuss about the projects taken up under the Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with the irrigation ministers of all the states in Delhi on Monday. The meeting was held to discuss issues to be resolved to complete the 23 projects taken up in various states under PMKSY by 2017.
Speaking on the occasion, Harish Rao said if pending irrigation projects in a state are to be completed in the next five years, the Central Water Commission’s cooperation and clearances on a fast track are required.
“There has been an abnormal delay in getting permissions from the CWC,” Harish Rao said adding that the delay in getting clearances would lead to cost escalation of the projects. “The CWC should give speed up clearances and avoid delay in execution of projects,” he said.
The other issues raised by Harish Rao include according national project status to at least one project in Telangana. The Centre should also resolve inter-state water disputes, Harish Rao demanded. He suggested the CWC should conduct regular meetings with the departments concerned to give environmental and forest clearances without any delay.