Hyderabad, October 29: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh will inspect the Kolleru lake situated between Krishna and West Godavari districts to take a final decision on the lake contours issue.
The Central Government had earlier rejected the State Government’s proposal to develop the lake up to Contour 3 and directed the State to restrict cultivation up to Contour 5.
At his meeting with Chief Minister K Rosaiah and Forest Minister P Ramachandra Reddy here today, Ramesh is learnt to have discussed the issue with the chief minister and the officials. The State Government will require about Rs 1,000 crore for the Kolleru Development Project up to Contour 5.
He also agreed, in principle, to treat the Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute as a national project. The State and Central governments are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding shortly in this regard.
–Agencies