In a major setback to the Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh and causing jubilation to the Revanth Reddy government in Telangana, the Narendra Modi-led union government has blocked environmental clearance to Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIC).
At a time when Telangana is strongly objecting to this project, the Center’s decision is going to be a blow to AP. The Center has blocked the environmental clearance for the RLIC, which the AP government planned to build against the rules on the Krishna river waters.
The Union Environment Ministry has announced the decision to this extent. It is known that the Principal Secretary of the Telangana State Irrigation Department Rahul Bojja has complained to the Center about the way the AP government is violating inter-state rules to build the RLIS.
The Expert Appraisal Committee held on the 27th of last month had raised objections to the applications made for AP permits. In the minutes released recently, it suggested filing an affidavit with full evidence that no work had been done there before seeking environmental permits. At the same time, Gavinolla Srinivas from Telangana filed a case in the National Green Tribunal in Chennai opposing the scheme.
In this, the AP government argued that permits were not required for the first phase of the project. Therefore, it applied only for the second phase of environmental permits. Responding to this, the Central Environment Ministry objected to the AP government’s approach and rejected the application. Thus, environmental permits were denied to the project.
The Telangana government has been raising objections to the construction of this project by the AP government without the approval of the Krishna River Management Board and the Apex Council and had made arguments to the Centre on several occasions.
Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Centre’s refusal to grant environmental clearances to the RLIS, which the AP government had planned to build with Krishna waters, was a victory for the state government. He made it clear that Telangana’s share in Krishna waters would not be given up under any circumstances.
He explained that the Telangana government officials have succeeded in providing evidence to the central government about the AP government’s disregard for inter-state rules. He said that the AP government has started this project not only by violating inter-state water rules but also environmental laws.
He said that the Congress party government is making every effort to protect Telangana’s share in Krishna waters. Minister Uttam recalled that he personally spoke to the Union Environment Minister about AP’s unilateral actions and explained them in detail.
He said that if they had not stopped the construction of RLIC, there would have been a serious problem for irrigation and drinking water in the Krishna river basin of Telangana.