The Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has accepted two major irrigation/multipurpose projects and four flood management schemes/master plans with a cumulative cost of Rs. 84,748 Crores from six States/ UT in its meeting held in New Delhi yesterday.

The Kaleshwaram Project of Telangana with an estimated cost of Rs. 80190.46 Crores involves diversion of 195 TMC (5522 Million Cubic Meter) of Godavari water to irrigate about 18.25 lakh acres of land in 13 districts (out of total 31 districts) of Telangana. Further, this project will stabilize about 18.82 lakh acres of land under different projects of the state. In addition to this, the project will provide 40 TMC (1133 MCM) of drinking water to Hyderabad, Secundarabad and villages enroute and 16 TMC (453 MCM) of industrial water.

The Upper Pravara (Nilwande-II) Project of Maharashtra with an estimated cost of Rs. 2232.62 Crores will irrigate an area of 2,12,758 acres and provide drinking water to the tune of 13.15 MCM.

The Mahananda Flood Management Scheme (Phase-II) of Bihar, Seer Khad Project of Himachal Pradesh, Yanam Flood Protection Works of Union Territory Puducherry and Ghatal Master Plan (Phase-I) of West Bengal were also accepted in the meeting. These projects will provide flood protection to about 13,58,000 persons and save about 4,51,750 acres  of area from flooding.

The Advisory Committee met in Central Water Commission, New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri U P Singh, Secretary, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation yesterday and assessed the techno-economic viability of the above projects.

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NP/SKP/IA