While the Ministry of Water Resources wants the AP government to put on hold the spillway works of Polavaram project following a complaint lodged by the Odisha government, Telangana too has raised some concerns over the project. Telangana is not against the construction of the Polavaram project. However, it is worried about the submergence of its villages under the Polavaram project. As per the initial estimates, the flood discharge was just 35 lakh cusecs. But now the estimated flood discharge is around 50 lakh cusecs under Polavaram, said an official of Telangana’s Irrigation department.
“If the flood discharge is 35 lakh cusecs, the villages to be submerged in TS are estimated at 100 villages. But, with 50 lakh cusecs discharge around 270 villages will submerge,” an official in Irrigation department explained. With heavy discharge of water, the full reservoir level (FRL) of Polavaram too will increase from the earlier 150 feet to 170 feet. “It will have parabolic impact on Telangana villages,” the official pointed out. The heavy discharge in Godavari due to Polavaram too would have an efflux impact on the minor rivers joining Godavari and it would also pose danger to villages in Telangana, officials said.
The state government had already filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in July against the Polavaram multi-purpose irrigation project. The TS had requested the Polavaram Project Authority to assess the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) afresh with latest data along with comprehensive backwater studies with PMF of 50 lakh cusecs. TS, in its affidavit filed in the apex court, wanted to direct the project authorities for fresh impact assessment studies to be done as per the latest Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification.
TS also wanted detailed study for correct estimation of the PMF with the latest data up to water year 2016, apprehended to be more than the adopted 50 lakh cusecs. Union Ministry of Water Resources secretary Amarjit Singh, four days before his retirement on November 30, in a letter wanted the AP government to put on hold the project works. Why Is Harish In Delhi? While the state was hosting two mega events, Irrigation minister T Harish Rao was no where to be seen.
Why was he rushed to Delhi at that particular time? This is a doubt which several people want cleared at this juncture. If the sources in the Irrigation department are to be believed, the state required permissions for the Palamuru- Rangareddy and Sitarama lift irrigation projects. And therefore Rao was moved to Delhi. Ministry of Water Resources secretary Amarjit Singh who had the required knowledge about the irrigation projects in Telangana retired on November 30.
“If a new Secretary assumed charge, getting clearances from the MoWR will be delayed. That is why, Harish Rao rushed to Delhi along with the Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma and Irrigation special chief secretary SK Joshi,” sources said. Harish Rao and other officials succeeded in their efforts and certain files relating to the state irrigation projects were moved.
Polavaram compensation: Woman attempts suicide after a fight with husband
A woman attempted suicide by cutting her throat with a blade after a fallout with her husband at Bestagudem village in Kukunoor mandal. They fought regarding the compensation they received under Polavaram project.
According to information,the couple D Veeraiah and Nagalaxmi recently received`15 lakh as compensation for their giving their land under Polavaram project. Nagalaxmi gave `9 lakh to a person without informing her husband. After Veeraiah came eto know about it, they had a fight. On Thursday too, they argued. Upset over this, Nagalaxmi attempted suicide.
Locals noticed this and shifted her to government hospital in Aswaraopet. Her condition is stated to be
stable.