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New Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Jal Shakti minister to host Telangana, Andhra Pradesh CMs to discuss Banakacherla project
HYDERABAD: Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil has convened a meeting with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting, scheduled for 2.30 pm, gains significance against the backdrop of renewed tensions between the two states over water sharing, particularly following Andhra Pradesh's announcement of the Polavaram-Banakacherla project to divert 200 tmcft of Godavari water to the Penna basin via the Krishna basin. Both chief ministers have previously expressed their willingness to resolve interstate water disputes through dialogue. However, Telangana has strongly objected to the proposed AP project, citing the lack of mandatory clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Apex Council and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB). It is worth noting that both the Polavaram Project Authority and the GRMB had raised concerns over the project, stating that it requires a fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) and either a new water-sharing agreement or tribunal ruling to proceed. It remains to be seen whether the Ministry of Jal Shakti will push for a negotiated settlement between the two states, similar to efforts made on the Krishna water-sharing issue or invoke Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to refer the matter to a tribunal. An official release from the Telangana Chief Minister's Office on Monday stated that Revanth is determined to press for the state's rightful share of river waters and is committed to utilising every drop from both the Krishna and Godavari rivers. Revanth looks to correct past injustices At the meeting, Revanth is expected to urge the Union minister to expedite clearances for Telangana's irrigation projects on the Krishna river and seek central assistance for their completion. He has also directed officials to find a lasting resolution to the state's long-pending river water issues and to correct past injustices.


The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana refuses to discuss ‘Banakacherla' project at Revanth-Naidu meeting in New Delhi on July 16
Ahead of the crucial Chief Minister-level meeting between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held in Delhi tomorrow in the presence of the Union Jal Shakthi Minister, CR Patil, the Telangana government has refused to discuss the 'Banakacherla' project. Taking objection to Andhra Pradesh's proposal to discuss the 'Banakacherla' project in the Krishna basin as the single point agenda in the July 16 meeting, the Telangana government wrote a letter to the Centre on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) morning, just 24 hours ahead of the meeting between Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Telangana government clarified that there was no need to discuss the Banakacherla project, terming it irrelevant and unsanctioned. The letter pointed out that the Banakacherla project has not received any permissions from key regulatory bodies, such as the GRMB (Godavari River Management Board), CWC (Central Water Commission), and EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee). The Telangana government also highlighted that these agencies have already raised serious objections to the Banakacharla project. Citing these facts, Telangana argued that the project violates all existing laws and tribunal judgments and, therefore, should not be a subject of discussion. The Telangana government also warned that entertaining such proposals would undermine the credibility of the Central Government's regulatory bodies and also the Centre. Instead, the government said that the July 16 meeting should focus on pending and critical issues for which it had already sent a detailed agenda to the Centre. These include clearances and water allocations for projects pending on the Krishna river, recognition of Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi projects as national projects, as previously promised by the Centre. Other issues are the allocation of 80 TMC of water for the Pranahita project at Thummadihetti and the approval for the construction of a new project to utilise 200 TMC of floodwaters at Ichchampally. The Telangana government asserted that these issues are longstanding, legitimate, and vital for the equitable sharing of water resources between the two states.


New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PPA, GRMB object to diversion of water for Banakacherla
HYDERABAD: Both the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) have raised objections to the Andhra Pradesh government's proposal to divert water from the Polavaram project to Banakacherla. The GRMB, citing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, stated that there was no formal apportionment of the Godavari river water between the successor states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It noted that neither a tribunal award nor a mutual agreement exists to allocate the water between the two states. 'The CWC may take note of this,' the GRMB said in its letter to the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The GRMB suggested that either a new tribunal be established for the Godavari river or a mutual agreement be reached between the successor states for sharing water. The GRMB further pointed out that, as per the 2014 Act, regulation of river water to the successor states should consider tribunal awards under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. It said that while the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 incorporated inter-state agreements, it did not apportion water among the basin states. Consequently, there is no quantified share assigned to Andhra Pradesh or Telangana. On the proposed diversion of 2 tmcft of water per day from the Polavaram dam, the GRMB said that such a move could alter the existing operation schedule of the project. Any changes, it stated, must be made in consultation with the states of the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. On the transfer of Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, the GRMB cited Clause 7(f) of Annexure-I of Annexure-C of the GWDT Award.

The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PBLP needs revision of Polavaram project DPR as it changes scope: GRMB to CWC
HYDERABAD The Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) has observed that the diversion of an additional 200 tmc ft water from Polavaram Project planned by Andhra Pradesh through the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) will change the scope of the project (Polavaram) and it requires the revision of the detailed project report of the Polavaram dam. In its observations on the pre-feasibility report (PFR) sent to the Central Water Commission, the river board noted that the DPR of Polavaram project was approved by the Advisory Committee of the Department of Water Resources on January 20, 2009 and the changes planned now needs to be placed before the same for approval again. 'The diversion of 2 tmc ft water per day from Polavaram dam may lead to modification of the operation schedule of Polavaram project as per the agreement of April 2, 1980 between the erstwhile States of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Any change in the operational schedule shall be made only after consultation with the three erstwhile States', the GRMB said in its communication sent to the CWC. With regard to diversion of Godavari waters to the Krishna Basin, the river board stated that it was agreed by the States that if the diversion at 75% dependability exceeds the quantity of 80 tmc ft due to the diversion of Godavari water from Polavaram to the Krishna Basin, such excess quantity shall also be shared among the upper riparian States — erstwhile A.P. (Telangana), Karnataka and Maharashtra in the same proportion as 80 tmc ft is shared among them. Further, it suggested that the CWC may take care of the provisions of GWDT and KWDT Awards which refer to the river augmentation of Krishna with diversion of water from any other river and the State (A.P.) needs to clarify whether the proposed project (PBLP) will utilised surplus water or flood water of Godavari. The river board noted that the AP Reorganisation Act stipulates regulation of river water to the successor States having regard to awards of the tribunals. In case GWDT did not quantify the water availability in Godavari Basin and apportioned among the basin States, agreements between the co-basin States were made part of it. Thus, 'there is no apportionment of Godavari water allocated to erstwhile A.P. between the successor States by any tribunal nor any mutual agreement between them and CWC may take note of it'. The PFR mentioned that the cost estimate of the project does not include the cost of creation of infrastructure for the new ayacut of 3 lakh hectares (7,41,315 acres). But the DPR shall include all components while arriving at the total cost of the project. The river board also urged the CWC to ensure the committed utilisations of existing, ongoing and contemplated projects of both the States (Telangana, A.P.).


New Straits Times
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Bangladeshi militant group dismantled, other elements yet to be detected
KOTA KINABALU: Police have confirmed that the Bangladeshi Radical Militant Group (GMRB), spreading extremist beliefs and ideology among Bangladeshi in the country, has been successfully dismantled. Special Branch Deputy Director I of Bukit Aman, Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, said this followed a coordinated operation launched by the police since April, with all members of the foreign militant group now in custody. "As of now, I can say that the Bangladeshi militant group, GMRB, has been dismantled. "However, we believe there are still other militant elements yet to be detected, and that will be detailed in due course," he said when met after the graduation ceremony for the 78th Basic Police Training Programme Series 5/2025 at Sabah police headquarters today. He added that one of the main challenges to combat such movements like GRMB was due to the use of social media as a platform to recruit new members and spread extremist ideology. "Some of them (GMRB) were recruited through social media. It has become the main platform for spreading radical beliefs silently. "(As such), we must enhance our capabilities in terms of technology and cyber monitoring so that such activities can be detected earlier," he said. He also said that despite social media being an important communication tool for the public, it has now become a key weapon for foreign militants. "Social media can serve as the eyes and ears of the public for us, but at the same time, it is also being manipulated for extremist purposes. "We are doing our best to carry out our duties with a strong focus on serving the community," he said. Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the militant movement based on Islamic State (IS) extremist beliefs and violent ideology used social media and messaging applications to spread their ideology, recruit new members and collect funds. He also said the group focused their efforts on recruiting Bangladeshis who worked in factories, petrol stations and construction sites. It was reported that police detained 36 Bangladeshi nationals recently. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was quoted as saying the planned security operation, which began on April 24, was carried out in three phases in Selangor and Johor. Of those detained, five individuals have been charged under Section 4A of the Offences Relating to Terrorism (Chapter VIA) of the Penal Code in the Shah Alam and Johor Baru Sessions Courts. Another 15 people have been issued deportation orders, while 16 others are under investigation for involvement in the militant movement. Intelligence gathered by the Special Branch revealed that the group had introduced IS-inspired ideology into the country and had formed recruitment cells within their community. Saifuddin said that Malaysia would not serve as a haven or staging ground for any foreign extremist movement.