Chandrababu Naidu's proposal to use Godavari floodwaters for Andhra Pradesh returned by green panel
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Faced with strong opposition from Telangana, the Chandrababu Naidu government's Rs 81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) - proposed to bring Godavari flood waters to Andhra Pradesh's arid region - has run into rough weather with the Union environment ministry.In a June 17 meeting, the ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for environmental clearance has "returned" the project proposal, citing "several representations" on it alleging that the project may violate the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980. The committee has asked the Andhra government to instead consult the Central Water Commission (CWC) first on the "inter-state" matter and only then approach the EAC. It has also noted the project's linkage with the Indira Sagar Polavaram Multipurpose Project which was given environmental clearance way back on January 25, 2005, but is sub-judice due to submergence-related issues in the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.In light of the same, the EAC has recommended that the Andhra government should "comprehensively assess the availability of floodwaters in consultation with the CWC". Furthermore, the EAC noted that "several representations have been received via email, alleging that the proposed scheme may be in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980." "In view of this, it is imperative that the PP should approach CWC for examining the inter-state issues and granting necessary clearance/permission before submitting the proposal for framing the TOR for conducting EIA study. The EAC decided to return the proposal on the above lines," the minutes of the EAC meeting have recorded.ET was first to report on the ambitious project being piloted by the Naidu government with the chief minister himself taking the lead, holding rounds of reviews to ensure that the project secures green clearances at the earliest. The state aims to start construction on it by March 2026 and complete it by May 2029 and has been fast tracking pre-construction requirements considerably.The AP government, in fact, readied its mandatory pre-feasibility report for the project and submitted its proposal to the EAC by June 5, for consideration at the June 17 meet. The project, however, has ruffled Telangana considerably.The Naidu government has submitted to the Centre that the PBLP is aimed at making Andhra Pradesh a "drought-proof state" by utilising only the flood waters of river Godavari, a contention that Telangana finds unacceptable. The Revantha Reddy-led government has held that the project is violative of the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014 as well as the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980. Reddy had called on Union jal shakti minister CR Patil on June 19 to underline his concerns on the issue.
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