'Govt hoodwinking people on Devadula'

HYDERABAD: The government's decision to construct a lift irrigation project across the Godavari at Devadula is aimed at hoodwinking the people of Telangana, Congress Forum for Telangana (CFT) alleged on Sunday. The government announced that it would take up the project after the Centre gave hydrology clearance. However, it yet to obtain the environment clearance and the required approvals from Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh governments, the CFT said.Speaking to reporters, CFT leader Palvai Goverdhan Reddy criticised the state government for initialising the project without proper clearances. The government should first complete the projects at Dummuguda, Itchampally and Ellampalli, which have all the necessary clearances, he said. Goverdhan Reddy came down on the government for going ahead with the Devadula project with 24 lifts without arrangements for getting power to operate them. He criticised the government's decision to supply water to fruit gardens instead of paddy and other dry crops. The CFT leader asked chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to begin a dialogue with the Maharashtra government on the Penganga project. The government should take up the Bhima lift irrigation project and complete the Jurala project in Mahabubnagar district, he added.