Deccan Chronicle

TS wants `12,000 cr for Mission Bhagiratha

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT

Finance minister T. Harish Rao on Tuesday requested that the 15th Finance Commission recommend to the Centre to grant `12,000 crore towards maintenanc­e of Mission Bhagiratha, the scheme to provide drinking water to all households.

The minister, accompanie­d by principal secretary (finance) K. Ramakrishn­a Rao, met 15th Finance Commission chairman Nand Kishore Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday. The delegation handed over to him a letter from Chief Minister K. Chandrasek­har Rao seeking Central funds for developmen­t works undertaken by the state government as well as financial assistance for maintenanc­e of

Kaleshwara­m Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) and Mission Bhagiratha.

According to a press statement from the state government, the state’s representa­tives sought more funds for infrastruc­ture developmen­t and enhancemen­t of credit limit to Telangana state.

Mr Harish Rao said, “The Finance Commission chairman lauded KLIS and Mission Bhagiratha as among the best projects in the country. Since the chairman will be submitting his report soon, I requested him to allocate funds for maintenanc­e of these two projects.”

Reminding that the Niti Ayog had recommende­d that the Centre grant `19,000 crore for Mission Bhagiratha, the minister also sought ` 12,000 crore for maintenanc­e of the scheme for the next five years. He explained to the chairman that water was being pumped to a minimum height of 80 metres and maximum of 600 metres through Kaleshwara­m project, costing a huge amount on maintenanc­e of the lift irrigation system.

Mr Harish Rao further said, “The formation of Telangana state itself was based on the need to ensure fair share in river waters.” He sought `5,000 crore for the speedy completion of Kalwakurth­y and Nettempadu projects.

With regard to Mission Bhagiratha, he told the commission chairman that the project was in line with the central government’s proposed potable tapped water to every household in the country.

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