The Andhra Pradesh government has started the process for obtaining environmental clearance for the 3,829 crore Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS), which will be constructed on backwaters of Krishna River.
Conceived by Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy government in August 2020, the RLIS is designed to provide assured water to approximately 19 lakh acres of land in four districts of Rayalaseema – Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, and Chittoor.
However, in December 2021, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the AP government to halt all work on the lift scheme in the absence of a mandatory environmental clearance.Officials have now started laying the groundwork for obtaining the environmental clearance.
Their primary focus will be to emphasise that the scheme is to meet drinking water needs of people.
NGT had issued orders halting work on RLIS after a person from Telangana filed a petition alleging violation of rules by the AP government while taking up the scheme.
The tribunal then halted work and set up a committee to examine whether the detailed project report prepared by the state is strictly in accordance with the norms prescribed by the Central Water Commission and the Geological Survey of India.
Post the NGT order, the RLIS remained at standstill since then.
Now, officials are devising a strategic approach to obtain the environmental clearance by emphasising that the key reason for the project is to provide drinking water to the backward Rayalaseema region.
The Muchumarri Lift Irrigation Scheme, a crucial component of Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project, has the potential to provide irrigation facilities to only 6 lakh acres of land in the drought prone Rayalaseema districts.Its current capacity stands at 4,850 cusecs.Local farmers and associations are now urging the government for the swift completion of RLIS.
