TS accused of ‘digging deep’

The Hyderabad High Court on Monday granted a week to TS government and authorities of irrigation department to place their stand on a petition by farmers from Yellur village in Kollapur mandal of Mahbubnagar district questioning the construction of an underground pumping station beneath their land as part of the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akhter was hearing the farmers’ petition.

P. Shashi Kiran, counsel for the petitioners, told the court that Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd, which was executing the PRLIS, has changed the original alignment of the project that resulted in construction of pumping station beneath the lands of the petitioners. Counsel said that the farmers had the original alignment of the project.

Reacting to the submissions, the bench said that the court has no expertise to decide whether the realignment was correct or not or whether the pumping station should be above or below the ground.

While stating that they cannot run the administration from the court, the bench asked counsel to explain whether there was any violation of law.

The bench pointed out that when pipes were laid 300 feet beneath the ground, how would the lands of the petitioner be affected.

While placing two letters before the bench, counsel said that they pertain to big projects wherein it states that forest and environmental clearances are mandatory when such projects require both forest land and non-forest land.

He submitted that in one of the letters, the Ministry of environment and forests prohibited states from starting work even on non-forest land because if approval was rejected with regard to forest land required for the project.

He said that the other letter was from Telangana Forest department wherein it has clearly requested the PRLIS authorities not to commence work in non-forest land in view of the centre’s directive.

The bench posted the case to next week.