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States » SouthPosted at: Mar 15 2025 10:06PM


Uttam secures major victory for Telangana as EAC blocks RLIS environmental clearance

Hyderabad, Mar 15 (UNI) Telangana Irrigation & Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy achieved a significant victory for Telangana after successfully 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.
The Telangana government has persistently pursued efforts at multiple levels, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT), MoEF&CC, the Supreme Court, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and KWDT-II, to halt RLIS. Uttam Kumar Reddy has led these efforts, personally taking up the matter with the Union Environment Minister and cautioning that Andhra Pradesh's unilateral RLIS execution would severely harm Telangana's rightful share of Krishna River water.
In a crucial development, the EAC, during its 25th meeting on February 27, directed Andhra Pradesh to restore the RLIS site to its pre-construction state before seeking environmental clearance.
The committee, reviewing RLIS-related compliance issues with an NGT order, concluded that Andhra Pradesh had violated environmental norms and must roll back all construction activities beyond the initial planning phase before moving forward.
The ruling emphasised that Andhra Pradesh must submit an affidavit confirming no construction had occurred beyond the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). It also required photographic evidence, restoration details, and a corrective action timeline. The EAC warned that any false or misleading information would face legal action under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Led by Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Telangana team remained firm in its opposition to RLIS, highlighting violations of environmental laws and interstate water-sharing norms. Telangana has consistently argued that RLIS is an unauthorised project aimed at diverting Krishna waters without KRMB or Apex Council approval.
As part of the ongoing 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. Telangana officials have repeatedly stressed that RLIS would jeopardise irrigation and drinking water supplies in the Krishna basin districts.
The EAC ruling has been hailed as a crucial legal and environmental victory for Telangana, reinforcing the state's position that RLIS is an illegal project that must be stopped. The decision is expected to provide significant relief to thousands of farmers in Telangana's drought-prone Krishna basin region, who feared RLIS would severely reduce water availability for irrigation.
"Telangana will continue its determined legal and policy battle to safeguard its rightful share of Krishna River water and prevent unauthorised projects that threaten its water security," Uttam Kumar Reddy said in an official statement on Saturday.
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