Latest news with #Godavari-BanakacherlaLinkProject
NDTV
03-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Water Row: Nara Lokesh's Remarks Stirs Fresh Tensions Over Godavari Dispute
Hyderabad: A fresh round of war of words has erupted between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over sharing of river waters after Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh defended the controversial Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project and declared that the government is determined to take Centre's approval for the same. Two weeks after the Telugu states agreed to form a committee to address river water issues, Lokesh's comments have triggered new tension between the two neighbours. The remarks by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's son not only drew strong reaction from the Congress government in Telangana but also provided more ammunition to Telangana's opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which has been accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of mortgaging Telangana's interests to his "political guru", CM Naidu, by agreeing to a committee. Lokesh, who is minister for Human Resources Development and Information Technology, not only questioned Telangana's objections to the project but also asked the neighbouring state if it had the approvals to build the Kaleshwaram project on the Godavari River. Maintaining that Andhra Pradesh will be diverting Godavari water flowing into the sea to the Rayalaseema region through the Banakacherla project, Lokesh remarked, "Why should anyone have an objection to it?" "We will be diverting the river water, which is coming to Andhra Pradesh after flowing through Telangana, and going into the sea. I am surprised why they should have an objection to it. Why did you build the Kaleshwaram project? Do you have regulatory committee approval?" he asked. He alleged that some leaders were deliberately inciting regional animosities in the name of Banakacherla for political mileage. Lokesh did not name any party, but BRS was quick to hit back at him. Claiming itself to be the only party which can protect the water rights of Telangana, BRS vowed to fight legally to stop the Banakacherla project. "Speaking about our water rights is not inciting regional animosities. How is it wrong to speak about the future of our people? As the party that achieved Telangana, we will speak about our rightful share of water," said BRS leader and former irrigation minister T. Harish Rao. On Lokesh's claim that Andhra Pradesh did not obstruct the Kaleshwaram project of Telangana, Harish Rao advised him to ask his father if he did not write seven letters to the Centre to stop the project. Referring to Lokesh's remark that they have the "required power" to get the Centre's approval for Banakacherla, Harish Rao alleged that CM Naidu was acting as per his wish, as Revanth Reddy was maintaining silence. "Revanth Reddy is busy paying 'guru dakshina' to Chandrababu Naidu," Harish Rao said, referring to the past relationship between the two chief ministers. Lokesh's remarks also drew the ire of Telangana ministers and Congress leaders. They warned that his comments could harm the harmony between the two states. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka termed as "misleading" the statement by Lokesh that the Banakacherla project will divert water which is flowing into the sea. He argued that river basin states have a share in flood waters. Vikramarka blamed the "incompetence" of BRS for the water going to the downstream. "The BRS during its 10-year rule failed to take up projects to utilise the state's share," he said. He also made it clear that Telangana would not entertain further discussions about Banakacherla until its rights and needs were met. Dismissing the BRS allegations of a secret understanding with the TDP-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, Vikramarka said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy went to Delhi to stop the Banakacherla project. The Congress leaders also alleged that BRS, during its rule, mortgaged Telangana's water rights to Andhra Pradesh and claimed that their government is now trying to reclaim those rights. The Union Government told Parliament last week that construction on Banakacherla has not begun as the Telangana government continues to raise serious objections to it. Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh said in reply to a question that the ministry received a proposal seeking a grant of Terms of Reference for undertaking an environmental impact assessment study for the proposed project. The proposal was appraised by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydro-Electric projects in its meeting held on June 17. The EAC recommended that the project proponent should approach the Central Water Commission for examining the inter-state issues and grant of necessary clearance/permission/NOC before submitting the proposal for framing the TOR for conducting the EIA study. Accordingly, the EAC recommended the return of the proposal. The Rajya Sabha was told that the project is being assessed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) in consultation with all concerned authorities and co-basin states. Giving a new twist to the row, Lokesh said that the Andhra Pradesh government will ensure that the CWC gives its clearance for the Banakachelra project. As the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Congress and BRS leaders in Telangana have the apprehension that Chandrababu Naidu may influence the Centre to approve the project. The Banakcherla project aims to divert 200 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of Godavari floodwater to irrigate 7.41 lakh acres, stabilise 22.58 lakh acres in drought-prone Rayalaseema and south coastal districts, and supply industrial water. During his meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently, CM Naidu sought the Centre's help to complete the project, which is estimated to cost Rs 80,000 crore. He explained that the project proposes to divert 200 TMC of floodwater from Polavaram to the Banakacherla regulator in Kurnool district. He stressed that, as the last state on the river's course, Andhra Pradesh has the rightful claim to fully utilise this surplus water from the Godavari. CM Naidu maintained that the proposed project poses no harm to Telangana's interests. He has been stating that 2,000 TMC of Godavari water is flowing into the sea, and that if this water is utilised, it will benefit both the states. Telangana is opposing the Banakacherla project as it fears that it will impact water availability and violate inter-state water sharing agreements. At a meeting in Delhi on July 16 in the presence of the Jal Shakti Minister, the chief ministers of the two states agreed to constitute a committee to address all issues concerning Godavari and Krishna river waters. It was announced that the committee will comprise senior officials, engineers and experts from both the Telugu states. It was to be formed in 3-4 days and come out with a way forward on all issues in 30 days. The committee has not yet been constituted. While Telangana Chief Minister stated after the meeting that Banakacherla was not discussed in the meeting, Andhra Pradesh's Irrigation Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu claimed that it was the first item on the agenda and that the proposed committee will look into all issues, including Banakacherla.
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Talks on Banakacherla premature, untenable: Telangana government to Jal Shakti ministry
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has requested the Ministry of Jal Shakti to either revise the agenda for Wednesday's meeting of chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh or defer any discussion on the AP government's proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla link project until all statutory requirements, interstate consultations and clearances are fully complied with and all objections resolved. It also requested inclusion of the items proposed by it in the agenda for the meeting. Any discussion on AP's project was 'premature and untenable', Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao said in a letter to the Secretary of Jal Shakti. Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil has convened a meeting in Delhi on Wednesday with chief ministers of Telangana and AP, A Revanth Reddy and N Chandrababu Naidu, and to discuss river water issues. The AP government submitted Polavaram-Banakacherla as an agenda item. Telangana has objected to a discussion on AP's project 'at this juncture'. There is no clarity on whether the Jal Shakti Ministry will drop the Banakacherla item from the agenda or not. If the ministry does not drop it, Revanth might stage a walkout from the meeting after registering his dissent, sources said. However, he is expected to make his stand crystal clear on all irrigation-related issues of the state before walking out, the sources added. Meanwhile, the chief secretary in his letter said: 'Given the unresolved and substantive objections of the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Central Water Commission (CWC), and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the lack of statutory clearances, and the ongoing violations of binding legal provisions and tribunal awards, it is unequivocally premature and procedurally untenable to discuss the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project at this stage. Proceeding otherwise would undermine the authority of the Government of India's own regulatory mechanisms and set a precedent contrary to the rule of law.' 'The government of Telangana appreciates the initiative to address inter-state water issues. However, we must formally place on record our objections to the inclusion and discussion of the Godavari-Banakacherla (Polavaram-Banakacherla) Link Project at this juncture, and request that the agenda be revised accordingly,' Ramakrishna Rao said in the letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti on Monday.
New Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
EAC's Banakacherla rejection just comma, not full stop: CM Revanth Reddy
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday described the Expert Appraisal Committee's (EAC) rejection of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project proposal as a temporary setback for Andhra Pradesh, stating, 'It's a comma, not a full stop.' He said that Andhra Pradesh will resubmit the proposal with clarifications to address EAC's concerns because Prime Minister Narendra Modi's survival depends on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, whose own survival hinges on the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project. 'They are political linkages like rivers linkage,' he remarked. Revanth Reddy accused former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and BRS MLA T Harish Rao of betraying Telangana's interests in the allocation of Godavari and Krishna river waters. He alleged that KCR agreed to a reduced water share, effectively 'mortgaging' Telangana's rights. He claimed that Telangana, with 68% of the Krishna river's catchment area, should have received 555 tmcft of water as per international water laws, but the BRS government settled for only 299 tmcft, which the state never fully utilised, peaking at 220 tmcft due to incomplete projects. On the Godavari, the chief minister said that of the 1,486 tmcft water available, Telangana was allocated 968 tmcft and Andhra Pradesh 518 tmcft. He slammed KCR for redesigning the Congress-initiated Pranahita-Chevella project into the Kaleshwaram project, escalating costs from Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 1.5 lakh crore, with only 168 tmcft of water having been lifted so far. He also pointed out that in 2016, KCR claimed 3,000 tmcft of Godavari water was going waste, prompting Andhra Pradesh to plan the diversion of 400 tmcft to the Penna basin.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Harish writes to Uttam, pushes for immediate Apex Council meet to discuss Banakacherla project ‘violations'
HYDERABAD Stating that the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project, proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government, would be detrimental to Telangana's water interests, senior BRS leader and former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao urged Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy to impress upon Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to immediately convene an Apex Council meeting to discuss the alleged violation of the Reorganisation Act 2014. In a letter to Mr. Reddy on Sunday, Mr. Rao urged government to immediately convene an all-party meeting, besides holding a special session of the State Assembly to arrive at a policy decision on the Banakacherla project. Pointing out that Telangana will get an additional 157.5 tmc ft of Krishna water as its rightful share, if 80 tmc ft is moved to the Krishna Delta through Polavaram project, he said that Telangana will have the flexibility to use this water for other projects that do not have proper water allocations, such as SLBC, Kalvakurthi, Nettempadu, Palamuru-Ranga Reddy and Dindi. 'Telangana should seek this additional share of 157.5 tmc ft before the Brijesh Tribunal, discuss with legal experts, and take appropriate action. Engineering experts suggest that Telangana may positively consider the Godavari-Banakacherla link if AP agrees to these rights,' he said. Meanwhile, he lauded Mr. Reddy's recent letter to Mr. Patil, opposing the project, and urged the State government to prioritise TG interests over politics and assured full support in protecting its water rights.
Hans India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Halt Banakachera-Godavari project in AP: Uttam to Centre
Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has demanded that the Union government immediately reject the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project by Andhra Pradesh, block submission of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), and halt any move to call or award tenders related to the scheme. The minister also refuted allegations leveled by BRS leader T Harish Rao against the government's silence on the project. In a strongly worded letter addressed to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, the minister said the project not only breaches the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014, but also poses a direct and unacceptable threat to Telangana's rightful share of river waters. Minister Uttam said that the AP government was reportedly asked to submit the DPR of the Godavari-Banakacherla project. Expressing strong objection, he wrote, 'It is a matter of grave concern to us that the AP state government is asked by Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance in the presence of Senior Joint Commissioner, Ministry of Jal Shakti to submit the DPR of Godavari-Banakacherla link which technically implies that the underlying PFR of this scheme is deemed to have been approved.' He warned that such a move would not only be procedurally flawed but also violate fundamental principles of interstate water governance. 'Usually, the DPR of any scheme by any state can be submitted to CWC only when the underlying Pre-Feasibility Report is initially approved by CWC. Does GoI ask the state government to submit the DPR infer that the PFR of this scheme is deemed to have been approved by CWC,' he asked. Asserting Telangana's firm opposition, he added, 'We strongly object to the GoI asking the AP Government to submit the DPR. We strongly object to the Godavari-Banakacherla Project.'
