Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that he will go to Mumbai on August 23 to sign the final agreements on construction of irrigation projects on inter-State borders with his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis.
Mr. Rao, who received a call from Maharashtra CMO on Sunday, made this announcement in his Independence Day address at Golconda Fort. By two other announcements, Mr. Rao said the State government will shortly extend reservations to Scheduled Tribes and minorities on population basis and that Telangana will get 1,000 MW from Chhattisgarh in four months.
The signing of agreements by Mr. Rao and Mr. Fadnavis will mark the culmination of studies by coordination and standing committees, comprising Chief Engineers and Secretaries respectively of both States, on submergence under the projects. Now, it is up to the Apex committee of Chief Ministers and Irrigation Ministers to look into the recommendations of both panels on August 23.
The agreements will include construction of four barrages, including one for Telangana, on Penganga which is tributary of Godavari and projects on the same river at Tummidihatti in Adilabad with a height of 148 metres and Medigadda in Karimnagar with 100 metres. The recommendations of panels included a provision for a height up to 102 metres at Medigadda but a final view will be taken by the Apex body.
The accord on August 23 will seal Kaleswaram project, earlier known as Pranahita - Chevella, at Medigadda. Mr. Rao made the announcement on reservations to STs and minorities in the backdrop of the Commissions appointed by the government to go into their socio-economic status submitting reports to him a few days ago. Though belated, his words that Telangana will get 1,000 MW from Chhattisgarh in four months were significant for the power sector.
He had signed an agreement with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh at Raipur in November 2014 for purchase of power, but the supply was not done in the absence of transmission lines between the two States. Cultural artistes in their colourful best occupied the top of damaged ruins of the fort all around. He took the salute from contingents of police that marched past. In his address later, he emphasised the good relations that the government promoted with the Centre and neighbouring States for mutual benefit.
