Environmental clearance for Sitarama Sagar to be pursued on priority: Uttam

Irrigation Minister has directed officials to expedite environmental clearances for the Sitarama Lift Irrigation Project in Khammam district. The project has already secured Technical Advisory Committee clearance from the Central Water Commission. Land acquisition has been largely completed in some project stretches, while certain forest clearances are still in process. The Minister has given priority to diverting Godavari waters from the project to the Paleru Balancing Reservoir. A review meeting will be convened to find solutions to the issue of submergence in Bhadrachalam Division due to Polavaram project backwaters.