HYDERABAD: Several irrigation experts from the Telangana region have strongly demanded that the central and state governments take collective steps and announce national status for the Pranahita- Chevella lift irrigation project and prepare an action plan for completion of the projects in a time-bound manner.Speaking during a debate on Godavari water and Telangana movement, organised by the Telangana Resources Centre here on Saturday, they described the mega Dr BR Ambedkar Pranahita- Chevella Sujala Sravanti project as the lifeline of Telangana.Unless the government took up the Kantalapalli project, the region would would not be in a position to utilise all the allocated Godavari water, they said and called upon all Telangana forces to launch an agitation to protect the Telangana resources.In his key-note address retired chief engineer B Anantharamulu said the Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project was vital for solving all the problems afflicting the region.“Telangana has the right to still utilise 1,480 tmcft of Godavari water.Keeping it in mind the government should build the Pranahita-Chevella project to provide irrigation facility to 16.40 lakh acres in the region.Only if the Kantalapalli project is taken up can people reap benefits from the Devadula project.'' Underlining the need for supply of adequate power to lift water from the Pranahita, a tributary of the Godavari, in Adilabad district and make it flow via upland areas to Chevella in Rangareddy district, the expert said the prestigious project would need 6,500 MW of power and suggested establishment of a captive power generation plant.He sounded optimistic on a captive power plant for the project.PV Rama Rao, another retired chief engineer, said the government should treat the Pranahita and Kantalapally projects as irrigation projects.Another Irrigation expert, G Prabhakar Rao, observed that it would not be possible to complete the Pranahita- Chevella project in the united state."The project will cost Rs 40,000 crore.The government aims to complete it by 2017 but spent a paltry Rs 1,100 cr in the last 1 year."
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