Latest news with #GodavariWaterDisputesTribunalAward
The Hindu
6 days 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 Wire
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Meeting of Andhra, Telangana CMs Ends in Stalemate as Key Issue in River Basin Linking Project Sidelined
Government Convened by Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil in Delhi, the meeting was a sequel to Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy's complaint over the proposal of Andhra Pradesh constructing the Godavari-Banakacherla project. Hyderabad: A meeting of the chief ministers of the sister states Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, N. Chandrababu Naidu and A. Revanth Reddy, respectively, was convened by Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday (July 16), amidst high hopes of addressing a ticklish river basin linking project between the states. However, it ended in a whimper as a discussion on the issue was sidelined. Instead, it was decided to leave it to a committee of engineers and officials to study pending proposals for projects in both states and suggest a way forward in 30 days. The Jal Shakti ministry will constitute the committee with representatives from both states. Wednesday's meeting was a sequel to Reddy's complaint to C.R. Patil when he met him in Delhi on June 19 over the proposal of Andhra Pradesh constructing Godavari-Banakacherla project – which was given national status by Union government – to link the waters of Godavari river from Polavaram to Penna river basin via Krishna basin for irrigating the chronic drought hit Rayalaseema region of the state. Reddy had complained that Telangana would lose considerable share of water in Godavari if the project was sanctioned. He had also expressed anguish that projects of Andhra Pradesh were getting immediate approval while proposals of Telangana were overlooked. He blamed it on the close rapport enjoyed by Chandrababu Naidu with the Union government as a key partner of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. So, the Union minister promised to invite both the chief ministers to sort out the issue. A day earlier, Revanth Reddy convened an all party meeting in Hyderabad where there was broad consensus authorising the state government to take all steps to stall the Godavari-Banakacherla project. After the meeting was scheduled at the instance of Patil today, the Andhra Pradesh government had written to the ministry to include discussion on the controversial project as the sole item on the agenda. This was protested by Telangana arguing that there could be no discussion as it lacked the statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission, Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) and the Apex Council constituted under the reorganisation Act. Moreover, the expert appraisal committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest had rejected the pre-feasibility report of the project. The project also violated the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 by proposing to alter water allocations and project operations with the consent of co-basin states. A letter written by Telangana chief secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to the ministry noted that the proposal for diversion of 200 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of "flood water" from Polavaram was unilateral and fundamentally altered the operation schedule of Polavaram project and impacted the water rights of Telangana. Earlier, the Telangana irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy shot off another letter to Patil over the injustice to Telangana by keeping in pendency irrigation projects of the state on Krishna and Godavari rivers. On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh government was allowed to proceed with a lift-irrigation project for Rayalaseema from the bed of Srisailam reservoir despite a stay given by the National Green Tribunal. He demanded a reservoir on the lines of Polavaram for Telangana at Itchampally with a capacity of 200 TMC ft. The proposal of Andhra Pradesh for Godavari-Banakacherla project received not only political backlash but also stormy debates in civil society of Telangana. It was argued that Andhra Pradesh made a false claim to utilise flood waters which was a fictitious name given for non-existing water availability. What Andhra Pradesh was trying to project was average water over a 40-year timescale. Former advisor to Jal Shakti ministry Sriram Vedire gave a presentation saying the annual runoff of Godavari at Polavaram as per the gauze station of central water commission (CWC) for 57 years from 1966-67 to 2022-23 was about 3,000 TMC ft. The average flow of 3,000 TMC ft into the sea included the unutilised assured waters at 75% dependability allocated to the upstream states of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana. It also included spills from projects of upstream states. The 75% dependability referred to water available for three out of four years for planned utilisation of a project and its success in irrigating the command area for three out of four years. Sriram said that the CWC, in its reports of 2018 and 2023, denied availability of surplus water in Godavari at 75% dependability. The runoff water of 3,000 TMC ft into the sea was frequently highlighted by former chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samiti supremo K. Chandrasekhar Rao while stressing the need for more projects on Godavari in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. This was the butt of criticism by Revanth Reddy saying Rao mortgaged the interests of Telangana with Andhra Pradesh when Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was its CM. The Congress and BRS traded charges against each other over conception of Godavari-Banakacherla project in the context of Rao's demand to exploit the 3,000 TMC ft for mutual benefit of both states. In the background of raging controversy over the project, Wednesday's meeting of Naidu and Revanth Reddy in the presence of Patil assumed significance. But, the meeting skipped any discussion on the project, Reddy said at a press conference later. He said what was decided was the installation of telemetry stations from all water offtake points in Krishna river to quell doubts of both governments about over usage of water by each other. He said that the Andhra Pradesh government will undertake repairs and restoration of Srisailam dam on Krishna which is under its administrative control. The need for repairs to the dam was also stressed by the National Dam Safety Authority. Reddy added that it was also decided to locate the office of GRMB in Telangana and that of KRMB in Andhra Pradesh. Finally, the committee of engineers and officials will identify the river water issues of both States and suggest a way forward in 30 days. 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Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu, revanth Reddy to meet Jal Shakti Minister over ₹81,900 cr Polavaram-Banakacherla link project
The Centre has called a joint meeting of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana chief ministers on Wednesday to iron out differences between the two states over Rs 81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project , which proposes to bring Godavari floodwaters to the state's parched region. Jal Shakti minister C R Paatil will meet Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy together on Wednesday over the project. Naidu government has proposed this ambitious inter-linking project to connect Krishna and Godavari basins and transferring Godavari floodwaters to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region through the Krishna basin . The project involves construction of a new reservoir at Bolapalli and using lift stations and tunnels to channel water to Banakacherla and Veligonda reservoirs. On its part, Telangana has objected to Naidu's proposal saying this violates provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 and the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980. Concerns have also been raised about the project's impact on several regions, including the temple town of Bhadrachalam. Andhra Pradesh had approached the environment ministry for clearances despite Telangana's objections. However, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) had returned the proposal and asked the state to first have it examined by Central Water Commission under Jal Shakti ministry. The joint meeting has been called by Paatil following on this. In a letter to Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Paatil had assured, '… the Central Water Commission, under my ministry, will duly examine it in accordance with the extant guidelines, existing Tribunal Awards/ Inter-state Agreements and various provisions under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and appropriate action will be taken.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Lifetime Office 365 Download Undo Earlier, Andhra Pradesh had already fast tracked the project by inviting tenders under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Naidu had requested the Centre for support through externally aided projects (EAP) and allocation under the Budget. Naidu has requested that 50% of the project cost be funded through EAP loans and about 20% as a grant. However, Telangana's objections have put a spanner in the works.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu's proposal to use Godavari floodwaters for Andhra Pradesh returned by green panel
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Panel under Central ministry returns Andhra's Rs 82k cr Banakacherla project proposal
A committee under the Union Ministry of Environment had decided to return a proposal by Andhra Pradesh on the Polavaram-Banakacherla link project , saying that the state government should comprehensively assess the availability of floodwaters in consultation with the Central Water Commission . In the Minutes of the meeting held on June 17, the Expert Appraisal Committee (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 project proponent (AP govt) should approach the Central Water Commission (CWC) for examining the inter-state issues and granting necessary clearance/permission before submitting the proposal for framing the Terms of Reference for conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment. The EAC decided to return the proposal on the above lines," the minutes said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo The Andhra Pradesh Government proposes to formulate a scheme for the transfer of flood waters from Polavaram Dam to Banakacherla Regulator on Srisailam Right Main Canal through a link canal to utilize flood waters. However, the Telangana government has been opposing the project tooth and nail, saying that the project is against the interests of the state. They even approached the Centre to stall the proposed project. Live Events The project is expected to provide drinking water to about 80 lakh people, irrigation to a new ayacut of about three lakh hectares, supplementation to about 9.14 Lakh hectares, and provide 20 TMC feet of water to industries. The preliminary cost of the project is estimated at Rs 81,900 crores at 2025-26 price level. AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said the Banakacherla project is aimed at taking surplus Godavari waters to the drought-hit regions of Andhra. Naidu had highlighted that Telangana need not worry as only excess water from the Godavari river will be utilised, which otherwise would drain into the sea.
