HYDERABAD

Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday instructed the authorities concerned to secure environmental clearances (ECs) pending for four major irrigation projects — Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, Sitamma Sagar-Sita Rama LIS, Dindi LIS and Gouravelli reservoir — in a time-bound and focused approach in the wake of the recent Supreme Court judgment.

Along with Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar, Mr. Reddy held a meeting with the officials. He stated that the Supreme Court had laid down clear guidelines on the EC procedures. It had provided ample clarity on the legal position concerning projects with valid environmental clearances, pending applications, rejected proposals and applications seeking post-facto approval.

The Irrigation Minister asked the officials to use the opportunity to pursue every eligible case expeditiously with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and other statutory authorities. Quoting the Supreme Court judgment, he said the projects possessing valid ECs accorded previously would continue to remain protected, while pending applications could be processed in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions.

He wanted the officials to examine the proposals rejected earlier project-wise and be resubmitted, wherever legally permissible, after rectifying technical and procedural deficiencies. He also asked the authorities to strengthen the Inter-State wing and equip it with adequate technical, environmental and legal expertise to pursue clearances and protect Telangana’s interests before the Union Government, the National Green Tribunal, the Supreme Court and other judicial and statutory forums.

Laying down a phased roadmap for processing the clearances, the Minister asked the officials to designate nodal officers and all available records consolidated within seven days. Updated environmental studies, compliance reports, land records and legal documents should be readied within 30 days, while the principal administrative and application-processing stages should be concluded within 60 days.

Stating that the government’s objective was to secure project-specific ECs within six months, wherever feasible and subject to statutory procedures, he cautioned against any laxity in preparing environmental-impact studies, rehabilitation and resettlement plans, forest-clearance documents, land-acquisition records and filing counter-affidavits required for the court proceedings.

He directed the officials to equip themselves with the complete history of every project, including the original clearance, subsequent changes in scope, redesign, expansion or relocation, pending applications, court cases, compliance requirements and penalties, if any.

The Minister stressed that environmental, forest, rehabilitation, land-acquisition and compensation related issues must be addressed before significant alterations were made to project designs as compliance was essential not only to avoid litigation but also to safeguard the legitimate interests of farmers, landowners and project-affected families.

Engineers-in-Chief O.V. Ramesh Babu (General), T. Srinivas (Admin) and R. Madhusudhana Rao (O&M), Joint Secretary K. Srinivas, Advocate Shravan Kumar and others participated in the meeting.