
HYDERABAD: Irrigation minister T Harish Rao has directed officials to send proposals to Union ministry of environment and forests for getting forest clearance for around 4,000 acres of land for construction of the Sitarama lift irrigation scheme in Khammam district.At a review meeting held at Jala Soudha here on Friday, Harish Rao also wanted proposals sent to the Centre for clearance for another 1,000 acres of land in the eco-sensitive zone. He asked officials to appoint a senior official in Delhi for coordinating with the Union forest ministry to get the clearances at the earliest.
The Sitarama lift irrigation scheme is intended to supply irrigation water to 6.74 lakh acres, of which 3,45,534 acres of ayacut will be stabilised and 3,28,853 acres of a new ayacut will be created. Of the 4,445 acres of land needed for the project, 374 acres of land has been acquired till now.
Officials informed the minister that they had identified 4,900 acres in Kothagudem and Jagtial districts for compensatory afforestation.
Rao directed the officials to expedite the project works. Of the eight packages, works in three packages commenced and agreements on works relating to five packages have been signed.
Cotton purchase to function from Oct 16: Harish RaoAt another review meeting, Harish Rao, who also holds the marketing portfolio, said cotton purchase centres would start functioning in the state from October 16 and soyabean purchase centres from October 20.
When Rao spoke with officials of Cotton Corporation of India over the phone, he was informed that cotton purchase centres would be opened across the state on October 16. The minister advised farmers not to sell cotton for a price below `4,320 per quintal . Harish Rao also wanted Markfed officials to open 231 maize purchase centres in the state.Markfed has so far purchased 88,000 quintals of maize and the purchases will continue till the stocks with farmers are exhausted.