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The Hindu
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana urges MoJS Secretary not to take up appraisal of PBLP
HYDERABAD The Telangana government has requested the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) not to undertake appraisal of pre-feasibility report of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) since it is in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and Polavaram Project Authority, infringing upon the water rights of Telangana. When the Environmental Clearance granted to the Polavaram project itself has issues of violation and a case is pending in the Supreme Court, which had directed the Centre on September 6, 2022 to address the issues by calling for a meeting of all the stakeholders, it would not be in the interests of natural justice if appraisal of PBLP is taken up, Principal Secretary (Irrigation) of Telangana Rahul Bojja said in a five-page letter addressed to the MoJS Secretary Debashree Mukherjee. He noted that Telangana Minister for Irrigation Uttam Kumar Redddy had requested Union Minister of Jal Shakti to direct the Central Water Commission to reject the PFR under review and also objected to the stand of Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, at the June 2 meeting with the AP officials to submit the detailed project report. Mr. Uttam Reddy also wrote to the Minister of Environment and Forests not to take up the appraisal of PBLP. Besides, letters were also addressed by authorities of the Irrigation Department to MoEF and PPA. Listing out the comments of Telangana on the PFR, the Principal Secretary stated that PBLP contemplates stabilisation of 9.14 lakh hectares (nearly 22.59 lakh acres) and new ayacut of another 3 lakh hectares (over 7.41 lakh acres), all in the Krishna and Penna Basins in Rayalaseema and South Coastal Andhra regions. He brought to the MoJS Secretary's notice that there is no clause in the GWDT Award for allocating floodwater among the basin States. Further, he noted, it is explicitly stated that if there is to be any change in the operation schedule as indicated in the inter-State agreement it shall be made only after consultation with the States of erstwhile AP (now Telangana), Chhattisgarh and Odisha, as the PBLP contemplates diversion of 200 tmcft water from Polavaram project and it would require changes in the operation protocol of the project – changes scope of the project too.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uncertainty over Naidu-Revanth meet as Telangana objects to Banakacherla in agenda
Uncertainty prevails over the scheduled meeting between the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh at the behest of Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday following strong objection raised by Telangana over the agenda fixed for the meeting — to discuss the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project proposed by A.P. In a letter addressed to MoJS Secretary Debashree Mukherjee in response to the meeting notice, Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao mentioned that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy had repeatedly communicated Telangana's objections to the project proposed by A.P. They had been clearly stating that the A.P.'s proposal violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award as also the A.P. Reorganisation Act. It also lacks statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission, Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards and the Apex Council. The pre-feasibility report submitted by A.P. contains critical data gaps and methodological deficiencies, particularly on water availability assumptions and technical feasibility, the Chief Secretary said in his letter. Further, the expert appraisal committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest had returned the project proposal citing violations of legal and procedural aspects and the GRMB had observed that diversion of 200 tmc ft water from Polavaram for the proposed project would change scope as well as operation schedule of the Polavaram project, which already has unresolved submergence issues in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana. Stating that the AP's proposal would undermine the rights of Telangana in Godavari water, he urged the MoJS Secretary to direct CWC to reject the pre-feasibility report of Banalacherla project, prevent A.P. from submitting detailed project report, stop finalising tenders and not to discuss/approve at any forum/by any agency. He also cited the objections raised by the Polavaram Project Authority, GRMB, CWC and EAC of MoEF on A.P.'s proposal. The Chief Secretary, however, welcomed the initiative of the MoJS to convene a meeting to sort out the other outstanding issues, provided the meeting agenda is revised by including the issues raised by Telangana in another letter such as clearance to Godavari Basin projects based on assured water and issues in the Krishna Basin — clearances to the projects proposed in Telangana by the erstwhile A.P.
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Business Standard
30-06-2025
- General
- Business Standard
Centre pushes expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana to tackle groundwater crisis
The Centre on Monday stressed the need to scale up the Atal Bhujal Yojana - popularly known as Atal Jal - across India, citing its success in improving community-based groundwater management and raising awareness about water conservation, especially in the face of mounting climate challenges. Chairing the eighth meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of Atal Jal here, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Department Secretary Debashree Mukherjee called this scheme a "unique and pioneering initiative" that has empowered local communities to take ownership of groundwater use. Mukherjee emphasized the urgency of mainstreaming Atal Jal nationally, pointing to the worsening impact of climate change on the water cycle. She advocated for mandatory water budgeting in all gram panchayats and urged the participating states to develop long-term operation and maintenance plans for infrastructure set up under the scheme. Mukherjee also encouraged the states to replicate successful pilot projects and use the knowledge and skills developed during implementation to enhance other water conservation initiatives. "Communities must become central actors in managing groundwater," she said. Highlighting the scheme's progress, Additional Secretary and National Project Coordinator Subodh Yadav noted that Atal Jal is now in its sixth year. He presented a pilot case from Ismailpur Gram Panchayat in Haryana's Yamunanagar district where high-frequency groundwater data was used to inform planning. A third-party impact assessment by the Quality Council of India found that the scheme has led to increased community participation, especially among women, improved local knowledge and a shift towards more water-efficient crops and farming practices, resulting in broader socio-economic benefits. Representatives from the World Bank, which supports this scheme, acknowledged the positive outcomes and identified areas needing further improvement. The participating states showcased local impacts during presentations, providing models for cross-learning and expansion. The committee urged the states to replicate the success of Atal Jal more broadly to build sustainable and inclusive groundwater management systems across the country.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Centre pushes for nationwide expansion of Atal Bhujal Yojana to tackle groundwater crisis
The Centre on Monday (June 30, 2025) stressed the need to scale up the Atal Bhujal Yojana - popularly known as Atal Jal - across India, citing its success in improving community-based groundwater management and raising awareness about water conservation, especially in the face of mounting climate challenges. Chairing the eighth meeting of the National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) of Atal Jal in New Delhi, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Department Secretary Debashree Mukherjee called this scheme a "unique and pioneering initiative" that has empowered local communities to take ownership of groundwater use. Ms. Mukherjee emphasised the urgency of mainstreaming Atal Jal nationally, pointing to the worsening impact of climate change on the water cycle. She advocated for mandatory water budgeting in all gram panchayats and urged the participating states to develop long-term operation and maintenance plans for infrastructure set up under the scheme. Ms. Mukherjee also encouraged the states to replicate successful pilot projects and use the knowledge and skills developed during implementation to enhance other water conservation initiatives. "Communities must become central actors in managing groundwater," she said. Highlighting the scheme's progress, Additional Secretary and National Project Coordinator Subodh Yadav noted that Atal Jal is now in its sixth year. He presented a pilot case from Ismailpur Gram Panchayat in Haryana's Yamunanagar district where high-frequency groundwater data was used to inform planning. A third-party impact assessment by the Quality Council of India found that the scheme has led to increased community participation, especially among women, improved local knowledge and a shift towards more water-efficient crops and farming practices, resulting in broader socio-economic benefits. Representatives from the World Bank, which supports this scheme, acknowledged the positive outcomes and identified areas needing further improvement. The participating states showcased local impacts during presentations, providing models for cross-learning and expansion. The committee urged the states to replicate the success of Atal Jal more broadly to build sustainable and inclusive groundwater management systems across the country.
India.com
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Water For Peace Or Terrorism? India's Indus Treaty Suspension Sinks Pakistan Into Crisis, Diplomacy In Overdrive
New Delhi: In the rugged terrain of diplomacy and decades-old treaties, water – which is often considered the harbinger of life – has now turned into a powerful instrument of geopolitical assertion. What was once a rare symbol of bilateral cooperation between India and Pakistan, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), now hangs in limbo, dangling between Islamabad's urgent pleas and New Delhi's steely silence. In April, India made a stunning move by suspending the treaty following the brutal Pahalgam terrorist attack, which killed 26 innocent lives in Jammu and Kashmir. For India, the message was enough is enough. Tolerance for cross-border terrorism has hit its limit, and business-as-usual is no longer acceptable, not even when it comes to sharing vital water resources. According to sources in New Delhi, Pakistan's Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza has reached out multiple times to his Indian counterpart Debashree Mukherjee. His letters speak of urgency, diplomacy and an apparent willingness to address New Delhi's 'specific objections'. But India has not replied. Not once. India's official stance? 'No dialogue on water, unless terrorism ends—credibly and irreversibly.' The fallout from this hardline position has already begun to ripple across Pakistan. A recent report by Pakistan's own Indus River System Authority recorded a 13.3% drop in year-on-year water flow from the Indus River. This decline is jeopardising critical Kharif crop sowing in its Punjab province. Farmers are now at the mercy of delayed monsoon rains, with scorching heatwaves compounding the crisis. A Nation on the Brink What began as a tactical diplomatic suspension by India has morphed into a full-blown existential threat for Pakistan. Over 80% of its agriculture depends on the Indus system. The flow from rivers like Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, which Pakistan heavily relies on, has reduced drastically. Experts now warn of a dual crisis – agricultural collapse and potential floods, as India is no longer obligated to share critical flood data. Facing mounting pressure at home, Pakistan has unleashed a global diplomatic offensive. A nine-member delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari first landed in the United States and pitched Pakistan's side of the story before UN officials and senior American diplomats. 'Our message was Pakistan seeks peace,' said former Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani. They were not only talking about water. They were talking about survival. Parliamentarian Khurram Dastgir warned US officials that the treaty's suspension 'endangers the livelihood of 240 million people'. Climate Minister Musadik Malik echoed those fears and flagged food security and environmental devastation as looming threats if the treaty is not revived. Pakistan also dispatched delegations to the United Kingdom, where lawmakers were told Islamabad remains 'committed to regional peace' and seeks to restore the IWT through 'composite dialogue'. India is Playing with Precision Back home, India remains unfazed by Pakistan's global outreach. Once unthinkable, the suspension of the IWT has triggered introspection within Indian strategic circles. Renowned geopolitical expert Brahma Chellaney called the treaty 'the world's most lopsided and inequitable water-sharing agreement'. He emphasised that Pakistan receives over 80.5% of the Indus system's waters, including almost 100% of the western rivers. Despite being the upstream state, India settled for only 19.5%. 'Pakistan repaid India's generosity not with gratitude, but with grenades and guns,' Chellaney wrote bluntly on X, citing a long list of terror attacks from the 2001 Parliament attack to the 2024 Pahalgam massacre. For him, the treaty is not only about water, it is about trust. And that trust, he says, is 'systematically dismantled'. Some Indian media reports incorrectly state that Pakistan gets 80% of the waters of the western rivers (the Indus system's three main rivers). As this chart from my book shows, Pakistan gets 80.52% of the total waters of the six-river Indus system — and almost 100% of the western… — Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) June 9, 2025 Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Satish Chandra, called the treaty a 'Brahmastra', warning that its full termination could cause 'extreme pain' and long-term disruption in Pakistan. What Happens Now? As Pakistan floods foreign capitals with diplomatic appeals and farmers grapple with parched fields, New Delhi remains unmoved. For India, any talks about Indus waters hinge solely on one condition: 'Concrete, irreversible action against terrorism.' Whether the global community can mediate or Pakistan can muster internal resolve to act on India's concerns remains to be seen. But for now, once a river of peace, the Indus is fast becoming a river of reckoning.
