Latest news with #andRehabilitation
Hans India
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Govt will rope in Army officials to expedite irri projects: Uttam
Hyderabad: State Government expedited land acquisition and Relief and Rehabilitation ( R and R ) for all pending and ongoing projects. Two high profile experts from the Army in tunnel engineering would also be appointed to speed up tunnel works in the ongoing project soon. State Irrigation minister N Uttam Kuamr Reddy instructed officials to give top priority to Palamuru Rangareddy and Sitarama sagar and complete the works in a time bound manner. At a review meeting held Saturday, the minister assessed the projects' status across districts, identifying key stumbling blocks. Chronic land acquisition delays, he noted, have become a major drag on timelines and cost estimates. To fix that, he called for proactive engagement with affected landowners and communities. Compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement, he insisted, must be handled transparently and sensitively. 'If we delay, we risk public backlash and legal trouble that could stall everything,' he warned. Uttam said that Palamuru-Rangareddy and Sitarama Sagar, both are critical to irrigating large, drought-hit regions and asked for top priority to be given to every stage of these works, from canal lining to tunnel boring, with no interruptions. He emphasised the critical role of tunnel works in several key projects, especially in regions where the terrain makes open canals impractical. To boost the department's technical capabilities, the Telangana Irrigation Department is bringing in two high-profile Army officers with deep experience in tunnel construction. General Harpal Singh, the former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, will come on board as an honorary advisor. Meanwhile, Colonel Parikshit Mehra, a globally recognised expert in tunnel engineering, will be joining the department full-time. Both officers played key roles in the construction of the Rohtang and Zojila tunnels - two of India's most challenging infrastructure undertakings.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Fast-track land acquisition and R&R for irrigation projects: Uttam tells officials
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to fast-track land acquisition and Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) for all pending and ongoing irrigation projects in Telangana, urging them to cut through delays and move decisively. At a review meeting held on Saturday at the Secretariat, the Minister emphasised the need for district-level coordination, asking officials to coordinate with District Collectors to urgently address legal, administrative, and logistical issues holding up progress. 'We can't afford to lose more time,' he told officials, pressing for smoother execution at every level. Mr. Reddy assessed project statuses across districts, identifying key stumbling blocks. He stressed that irrigation isn't just a structural need, it's essential to Telangana's farm economy and long-term food security. 'These projects must be treated as administrative priorities,' he said. To fix the chronic land acquisition delays, he called for proactive engagement with affected landowners and communities. Compensation, rehabilitation, and resettlement, he insisted, must be handled transparently and sensitively. 'If we delay, we risk public backlash and legal trouble that could stall everything,' he warned. 'No lapses, administrative or procedural, should slow this down. Delays only raise costs and spark discontent,' he said. Two projects received particular attention: Palamuru-Rangareddy and Sitaramasagar, both critical to irrigating large, drought-hit regions. With monsoon inflows rising across reservoirs, the Minister also reviewed operational readiness of irrigation structures, instructing officials to stay alert, monitor levels closely, and activate emergency protocols as needed. He emphasised the critical role of tunnel works in several key projects, especially in regions where the terrain makes open canals impractical. To boost the department's technical capabilities, the Telangana Irrigation Department is bringing in two high-profile Army officers with deep experience in tunnel construction. General Harpal Singh, the former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, will come on board as an honorary advisor. Meanwhile, Colonel Parikshit Mehra, a globally recognised expert in tunnel engineering, will be joining the department full-time. Both officers played key roles in the construction of the Rohtang and Zojila tunnels, two of India's most challenging infrastructure undertakings.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Polavaram R&R: Kalleru residents seek submergence status
Integrated Tribal Development Agency Project Officer Apoorva Bharat on Wednesday inspected Kalleru village in Chintoor, Alluri Sitarama Raju district to include the village in the first phase of the Resettlement and Rehabilitation (R&R) package of the Polavaram irrigation project. Mr. Bharat held talks with the residents in response to their appeal to include their village in the list of villages to be rehabilitated in the first phase within the 41.15 contour. In a written appeal, the residents claimed that the village with 268 families has been experiencing submergence during the Godavari floods, as it is located near the confluence point of rivers Sabari and Sileru. Mr. Bharat assured the Kalleru residents that a LIDAR survey would be conducted, which is a prerequisite for officially declaring a village as submerged.
India Gazette
15-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Public safety shouldn't be afterthought": Congress leader Pawan Khera on Pune bridge collapse
New Delhi [India], June 15 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Pawar Khera expressed his condolences to the families of the people who were killed in the Pune bridge collapse incident on Sunday, saying that 'public safety should not be an afterthought.' Expressing sorrow over the people's deaths, the Congress leader said that the lives lost in this disaster were a reminder of the cost of negligence. 'The collapse of the footbridge over the Indrayani River in Pune's Maval tehsil is a heartbreaking tragedy. Our heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones, and our thoughts are with those injured or still missing. Each life lost in this avoidable disaster is a painful reminder of the cost of neglect. Public safety should not be an afterthought,' Khera posted on X. He went on to appreciate the efforts of the search and rescue teams invested in saving lives and rescuing those who have been trapped. 'In this moment of immense grief, we are deeply grateful for the brave and tireless efforts of the search and rescue teams. Grief must be met with accountability. But today, we stand first with those who are grieving, and honour the spirit of those still searching, and still hoping,' Khera added. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makarand Jadhav-Patil informed that the rescue teams were working to save people, while the injured were rushed to the civil hospital for treatment. He said the bridge collapsed since many tourists flocked to the same area despite restrictions imposed. 'Till now, injured people have been admitted to the (Civil) hospital... The rescue operation is going on in full swing. NDRF and SDRF have come here for the same, along with volunteering organisations and locals... This bridge was restricted for people and two-wheelers, but since people were excited about monsoon tourism, many tourists flocked to the bridge, and it collapsed,' Patil told ANI. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of those who were killed in the Pune bridge collapse. The state government will also bear the cost of the medical treatment of the injured. 'CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced that the state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the bridge collapse incident on the Indrayani river near Talegaon in Pune district. Additionally, the state government will also bear the cost for the medical treatment of the injured,' CMO Maharashtra posted on X. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Devendra Fadnavis to inquire about the ongoing rescue operations after a bridge on the Indrayani river collapsed in Kundamala, which remains a popular tourist attraction in Talegaon Dabhade. The Prime Minister, currently in Cyprus, was briefed about the ongoing efforts to assist those affected. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of the deceased and hoped for the safety of those who still remain missing. 'The news of drowning of many people due to the collapse of the bridge on Indrayani river in Pune is extremely sad. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and hope for the safety of those who are still missing. There is an appeal to the administration that relief and rescue operations should be carried out with full promptness,' Gandhi posed on X. The NDRF is conducting search operations for those swept away, and all agencies are on high alert to expedite relief efforts. The injured are receiving medical care at nearby hospitals. (ANI)
Hans India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Jal Shakti team visits Vizianagaram for water project review
Vizianagaram: A Central team from the Jal Shakti Abhiyan visited Vizianagaram district on Wednesday to assess local water resources and understand ground-level conditions. The team paid a courtesy visit to District Collector Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and briefed him on their schedule and objectives. The team informed the Collector that they would be visiting the Thotapalli and Tarakarama Teertha Sagar (TTS) projects. They also planned to interact with beneficiaries of the Jal Jeevan Mission in Kota Gandredu village. During the interaction, Collector Dr. B.R. Ambedkar emphasized that Vizianagaram is a backward district and urged the team to recommend increased central funding for pending water infrastructure projects. Explaining the status of the Tarakarama Teertha Sagar project, the Collector said that although proposals worth ₹800 crore had been submitted, only ₹100 crore had been sanctioned so far. He noted that Relief and Rehabilitation (R&R) payments were still pending and stressed that the release of the remaining funds was essential to meet the district's developmental goals. He explained the importance of supplying 5 MLD (Million Litres per Day) of water to the Bhogapuram International Airport, providing drinking water to Vizianagaram Municipality, and ensuring irrigation for 25,000 acres of farmland in the Nellimarla, Gurla, Pusapatirega, and Denkada mandals. The Collector also highlighted the need for additional funding under the Jal Jeevan Mission. In response, the visiting officials assured him that the district should submit detailed project estimates and proposals, which would then be forwarded to the Central Government for further recommendation and approval. Taruna Doliya, Director, Ministry of Commerce; Nikhil Jeff, Deputy Director, Central Water Commission; Dr. D. Anantha Rao, Scientist, Central Ground Water Board; and others met the Collector.
