Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110755860400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

National project status: Rosaiah writes to Centre

Special Correspondent

Seeks nod for Polavaram, Pranahita-Chevella projects

National project status will help completion within stipulated time
Pranahita-Chevella will benefit seven backward districts of Telangana

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Rosaiah has appealed to the Union government to expedite formal Union Cabinet approval according national project status to Polavaram project and Pranahita-Chevella project.

In a letter to Union Minister for Water Resources P. K. Bansal on Friday, Mr. Rosaiah said that a formal approval of the Union Cabinet for Polavaram as a national project would pave way for its completion within the stipulated time.

PM’s package

Referring to Mr. Bansal’s letter that only one intra-State project would be funded from a State under category of national project, Mr. Rosaiah recalled that the Pranahita-Chevella project was among the 25 medium and major irrigation projects included in the Prime Minister’s package and thus eligible for AIBP support.

The then Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz had indicated that all the irrigation projects included under PM’s package would be eligible for AIBP support. As budgetary allocation might have been made by the Ministry accordingly for Pranahita-Chevella, funds should not become a reason for denying it national project status.

Emphasising the importance of according national status project to Pranahita-Chevella, Mr. Rosaiah said it would cover seven drought-prone and backward districts of Telangana region largely inhabited by Scheduled Tribes.

He also drew the Minister’s attention to the fact that the proposals were already under submission to the Centre for obtaining investment clearance from the Planning Commission and other statutory approvals.