Uttam Secures Major Victory For Telangana As EAC Blocks Environmental Clearance For RLIS

Hyderabad, March 15: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy achieved a major victory for Telangana by convincing the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to recommend blocking environmental clearance (EC) for the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) of Andhra Pradesh.

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The Telangana government has been continuously putting efforts at every level and every forum to halt RLIS, making strong representations at the National Green Tribunal (NGT), MoEF&CC, the Supreme Court, Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and KWDT-II. Uttam Kumar Reddy has been at the forefront of this battle, personally taking up the issue with the Union Environment Minister, warning that Andhra Pradesh’s unilateral execution of RLIS would severely impact Telangana’s rightful share of Krishna River water.

In a significant development, the EAC, in its 25th meeting on February 27, ruled that Andhra Pradesh must restore the RLIS site to its pre-construction stage before applying for environmental clearance. The committee, while reviewing a case related to RLIS and its compliance with an NGT order, concluded that Andhra Pradesh had violated environmental norms and must roll back all work beyond the initial planning stage before proceeding further.

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The ruling emphasised that Andhra Pradesh must submit an affidavit confirming that no construction had been carried out beyond the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and provide photographic evidence, restoration details, and a timeline of corrective actions. The committee warned that any false or misleading information would invite legal action under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

The Telangana team, led by Uttam Kumar Reddy, has been unwavering in its opposition to RLIS, citing violation of environmental laws and inter-state water sharing norms. Telangana has consistently argued that RLIS is an illegal project that diverts Krishna waters without approval from the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) or the Apex Council.

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As part of the sustained efforts, Rahul Bojja, Principal Secretary (Irrigation), also wrote to MoEF&CC, reinforcing Telangana’s objections and urging the Centre to halt the project in the larger interest of Telangana farmers. Officials from Telangana have repeatedly stressed that allowing RLIS to proceed would jeopardize irrigation and drinking water needs in Telangana, particularly in districts dependent on Krishna basin waters.

The latest EAC ruling has been hailed as a crucial legal and environmental victory for Telangana, as it reinforces the state’s position that RLIS is an illegal project that cannot be allowed to proceed. This decision is expected to bring major relief to thousands of farmers, particularly in the drought-prone Krishna basin region, who feared that RLIS would severely impact water availability for irrigation.

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“Telangana will continue its determined legal and policy battle to safeguard its rightful share of Krishna River water and prevent unauthorised projects that could threaten its water security,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said. (Maxim News)

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