The Kaleshwaram project has got an environmental nod from the Centre.
With this, the project, which has got all the clearances, is estimated to cost about Rs 80,499.7 crore and proposed to be completed in three years.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change gave the environmental clearance with certain specific conditions.
It said that the allocated grant of Rs 362.04 crore for the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan should be fully utilized and not be diverted for any other purpose. As per the plan, the area of CAT is 32.83 Sq.km.
The Centre directed Telangana to settle all rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) issues before commissioning of the project.
"Construction work to be carried-out after following the due procedure of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013 as applicable to the state of Telangana (21/2017) as amended by Act. Adequate publicity of the compensation package should be circulated in the affected villages. All R&R issues shall be completed before commissioning of the project," the ministry said.
It further directed to constitute a monitoring committee for R&R, comprising of representatives of project affected persons including a representative from SC/ST category and a woman beneficiary.
The environment clearance also comes with directions for greenbelt development.
"Plans for greenbelt development and reservoir rim treatment have to be made in consultation with State Forest Department. Preference shall also be given to plant local indigenous species. Conjunctive use of surface water shall be planned to check waterlogging as well as to increase productivity," the ministry said.
The project envisages construction of a barrage across River Godavari in near Medigadda village in Karimnagar District of Telangana for diversion of 180 TMC of water for providing irrigation facility in 7,38,851 ha covering 7 Districts namely Adilabad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Warangal, Medak, Nalgonda and Rangareddy Districts. It is also proposed to stabilize the existing command area of 7,62,028 ha of area. The project is also proposed to provide drinking water facility for Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities. The total land requirement is about 37,852 hectares (ha). Out of which, 3168.1315 ha is forest land and 34,684 ha is private land.
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