River link project will not harm interests of upstream states: Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu

Time of India

5 hours ago

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Vijayawada: Denouncing the Telangana leaders' allegations, Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said that Godavari- Banakacherla project will not harm the interests of upstream states including Telangana.
Speaking to the media here on Tuesday, Ramanaidu said that about 3,000 TMC ft of water from the Godavari River is going waste into the sea every year. He said that Godavari is the only river in the world where 50 lakh cusecs of water flow at a time.
"We will use only the floodwaters of the Godavari available at Polavaram. We will divert only the surplus water that currently flows wastefully into the sea to Banakacherla," the minister asserted.
Ramanaidu stated that Andhra Pradesh will not utilise the assured water available in Godavari River that has been allocated to other states. He added that AP, the last riparian state on the river, could not utilise the water allocated to the upstream states. It was not possible for AP to divert net water available in the river, the minister noted, reiterating that the Polavaram–Banakacherla project will not harm the interests of upstream states in any way.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The irrigation minister said that there is no ground for apprehensions on the issue. He stressed that it was not correct for the Telangana leaders to make the utilisation of flood waters a controversy to raise the regional tempers. He requested Telangana leaders to desist from making unnecessary controversy of the Banakacherla project. He also said that AP is ready to clarify all the doubts of the upstream states, and that, they wanted to take the surplus water to feed the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.
He said that Rayalaseema will benefit in terms of both irrigation and drinking water through Banakacherla project.
"Telangana leaders should keep in mind their own past actions before making comments against AP," said Ramanaidu.
He said that Telangana govt went ahead with award of contracts to various irrigation projects without obtaining proper permissions.
"Projects like Kaleshwaram, Sitarama Sagar, Palamuru–Ranga Reddy, and Sammakka Barrage were initiated without clearances.
The TRS leaders should keep in mind that former chief minister K Chandrasekhara Rao took up several projects without clearances from the Centre despite objections from AP. They do not have any right to question AP's good intentions," said Ramanaidu.
He said that farmers in downstream states will suffer if projects were executed by upstream without proper planning and permission. He said that lower catchment areas have special rights, which must be respected by the upstream states.
"We never had any malicious intent to halt projects in Telangana. In fact, chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has extended support to several projects in Telangana in the past. It is unwise for Telangana leaders to create unneeded controversy," said Ramanaidu.