Question : Clearance to Upper Bhadra Project

(a) whether the Government has given technical clearance to Upper Bhadra Project in Karnataka;
(b) if so, the details of clearance and the basis on which such clearance has been given;
(c) whether views/opinion of lower riparian States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has been taken;
(d) if so, the details of opinion/views given by both the States; and
(e) whether Upper Bhadra has been given environmental, forest and other clearances and if so, the details thereof?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a) & (b) A detailed techno-economic appraisal has been undertaken by Central Water Commission under this Ministry, involving key aspects such as hydrology & water availability, irrigation planning, inter-state aspects, environmental clearance, forest clearance, cost estimate etc. Thereafter, Upper Bhadra irrigation project has been accepted by the Advisory Committee on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose Project of this Ministry of Jal Shakti, in its 147th meeting held in December, 2020. Thereafter, in April, 2021, the project has been accorded investment clearance by this Ministry for estimated cost of Rs. 16,125.48 crore at 2018-19 price level.

(c) & (d) Inter-state clearance for the project has been accorded on the basis of its allocation being within the overall allocation to Karnataka State by the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal-I.

(e) The project has been accorded environment clearance by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), in May, 2010 and July, 2017. Further the project has also been accorded forest clearance in June, 2020 for an area of 96.95 hectares by MoEF & CC. Thereafter, in December, 2017, forest clearance for 111.57 ha and 110.10 ha, has also been accorded by MoEF & CC.

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