Mission Kakatiya to get 5,000-crore boost

HYDERABAD: In a major boost to the irrigation sector in Telangana, the Niti Aayog has recommended a Rs 5,000-crore grant for Mission Kakatiya, the programme aimed at reviving village tanks and lakes in the state. This was disclosed by Union water resources minister Uma Bharati to irrigation minister T Harish Rao on Tuesday.
Hailing the programme as a 'game changer', the water resources ministry agreed to expedite the release of funds.Harish Rao, along with chief secretary Rajiv Sharma and irrigation special chief secretary Shailendra Kumar Joshi met Uma Bharati on Tuesday in New Delhi and requested increase of central share for Devadula project.
The project was originally developed under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP) with 25 per cent central share. Citing the backwardness of the region and naxal menace in the project area, Harish Rao requested the Centre to increase its share to 60 per cent of the project cost. If agreed, the Centre will need to release an additional Rs 2,000 crore for the project.
"We have requested relaxation of fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) rules with regard to 11 irrigation project that were selected under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana programme. The Union minister agreed to take up the issue with Union finance minister," Harish Rao told media persons.
Telangana also insisted on release of central share for Bhima and SRSP-stage II projects, for which during the current year, the Centre released Rs 311 crore and held back Rs 373 crore.
The Telangana delegation later attended a meeting convened by Niti Aayog where progress of irrigation projects in five states including Telangana was reviewed.
"Telangana wanted to create an additional one crore-acre ayacut with the help of new irrigation projects. The PMKSY programme will be utilised to complete all ongoing projects and we have requested the Centre not to reckon the Nabard loan amount as state loan," Shailendra Kumar Joshi told TOI after the meeting.