Telangana CM and Irrigation Minister seek Centre's intervention in stalling Godavari-Banakacharla project works by Andhra Pradesh

The Hindu

5 hours ago

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy sought the intervention of the Central Government and Jal Shakti Ministry in stalling the Godavari-Banakacharla project — proposed by Andhra Pradesh — which is detrimental to the interests of Telangana.
They requested the Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to reject the Pre Feasibility Report submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government on Godavari-Banakacharla project as it is against the interests of Telangana. The latter was committed to raise the issue in all available platforms for an amicable resolution, they told Mr. Patil informing that the State would not desist to approach the Supreme Court if the Centre did not respond positively to its request.
The Chief Minister and Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy called on the Jal Shakti Minister on Thursday (June 19, 2025) and explained him about the adverse impact of the proposed project. They informed the Minister that Andhra Pradesh proposed the project in violation of the order of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) 1980 and A.P. Reorganisation Act 2014. People of Telangana, especially farmers, were concerned about the manner in which the Union Finance and Environment Ministries behaved in respect of the Godavari-Banakacharla project, they said in the more than one hour meeting.
Andhra Pradesh claimed that Banakacharla project was taken up on the flood waters of Godavari while the GWDT-1980 had ruled out scope for surplus and flood waters. The Reorganisation Act mandated that either of the two States should inform about proposed irrigation projects to the river management board, central water commission (CWC) and the Apex Council headed by the Jal Shakti Minister with Chief Ministers of the two States as members. The neighbouring State, however, set aside the norms and was going ahead with the project works.
The Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister took strong objection to claims of the neighbouring State, which ignored the prevailing norms and was claiming that the project was based on the flood waters. Andhra Pradesh was going ahead with Purushottapatnam, Venkatanagaram, Pattiseema, Chintalpudi and other lift irrigation projects under Polavaram without obtaining any clearances from the Technical Advisory Committee under the CWC.
Though the Telangana government had raised several objections relating to change in the Polavaram design and the works without obtaining environmental clearances, the neighbouring State did not stop the works. Reminding that Polavaram was a national project, they urged Mr. Patil to intervene and ensure that Andhra Pradesh did not violate the set procedures.
They told the Minister that if the neighbouring State was firm on flood waters in Godavari river, it could utilise the central funds for Inchampally-Nagarjunasagar link project for diversion of water to Penna basin. 'We are ready for discussion in this regard,' they said.
Ensure speedy pronouncement of KWDT-II verdict
Mr. Revanth Reddy and Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy requested the Union Minister to ensure that Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II delivers its verdict at the earliest and asserted that the government would not compromise on the interests of Telangana under any circumstances.