Lok Sabha Question No. 5289 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-04
Subject: Environmental Clearance to Rayalseema Lift Irrigation Schme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 5289

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2022

## Environment Clearance to Rayalseema Lift Irrigation Scheme

## 5289.   SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government received a letter from Hon'ble CM of Andhra Pradesh requesting for Environmental Clearance for Rayalseema Lift Irrigation Scheme;
- (b) If so, the details thereof including the Government's response thereto; and
- (c) Whether  the  Government  has  expedited  the  process  for  issuing  Environmental Clearance for proposed Rayalseema Lift Scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to  (c)  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  received  letters  from Hon'ble  CM  of  Andhra  Pradesh  vide  its  letter  no.01/CM-Addl.Secy/2021  dated  7 th January,  2021,  letter  no.36/CM-Addl.Secy/2021  dated  10 th June, 2021  and  letter no.44/CM-Addl.Secy/2021  dated  5 th July,  2021,  the  same  were  responded  by  the Ministry vide its letter no.J-11013/33/2020-IA-I(R) dated 11 th February, 2021 and letter no.  Z-11012/06/2021-IA.I  (R)  dated  14 th October,  2021  providing  suitable  advise/ information  regarding  the  Environmental  Clearance  for  Rayalaseema  Lift  Irrigation Scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

Rayalaseema  Project  Authorities  submitted  the  proposal  for  seeking  amendment  in existing  Environment  Clearance,  under  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, as amended.The proposal has been considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), constituted by the Ministry for considering  the  River  Valley  &  Hydro-Electric  projects  for  grant  of  Environmental Clearance (EC) under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006, in its meeting held on 16 th -17 th June, 2021 and 7 th July, 2021 subsequently. After detailed deliberations,EAC  sought  thefollowing  information  from  the  project  proponent  for further consideration of the proposal:

- i. A holistic report on water availability in the river, with the existing and future schemes including hydro power projects, should be provided as envisaged in the approved Master Plan for River Developments.
- ii. A study  showing  the  pre  and  post  project  temporal  simulations  of  drawl  of water from the reservoir.
- iii. Detailed status of other similar water lifting projects in the region/ neighbouring States along with status of environmental clearance in respect of such projects.
- iv. The  locations  of  any  Wildlife  Sanctuary,  Reserved  Forest  Area  and  other ecological habitats likely to be affected by the reduced levels in the reservoir post construction of the project.

The aforementioned information as sought by EAC has not yet been submitted by the Project Proponent till date.

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