New Delhi/Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on Thursday. They filed a complaint against Andhra Pradesh over the Banakacharla project and warned of legal action if it continues.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to dismiss the pre-feasibility report for the Godavari-Banakacharla project. He stated it goes against Telangana’s interests and violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal-1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014.
AP claims the project will use Godavari floodwaters. However, the GWDT-1980 does not mention flood or surplus waters. The 2014 AP Reorganization Act requires any new project to be approved by the Godavari River Management Board, Central Water Commission (CWC), and the Apex Council. Revanth Reddy highlighted AP’s disregard for these protocols.
Revanth Reddy informed CR Patil that AP executed projects like Purushothapatnam, Venkatanagaram, Pattiseema, and Chintalapudi using floodwaters without CWC’s Technical Advisory Board approval, claiming no rules were broken with the Polavaram project.
Revanth and Uttam Kumar Reddy suggested an alternative to link Icchampally–Nagarjuna Sagar to the Penna basin, funded by the Centre, instead of Polavaram–Banakacharla. They asked the Union Minister to push for an early Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 verdict and requested a No Objection Certificate for 1,000 TMC from the Godavari and 500 TMC from the Krishna. This would help irrigate 1.50 crore acres in Telangana. The CM said they would not oppose AP projects if their demands were fulfilled.
The Chief Minister criticized the Centre for quickly approving AP’s projects while ignoring Telangana’s. He asked for permissions and water allocations for the Palamuru-Ranga Reddy, Sammakka-Sarakka, and Thummidihetti projects.
Funding for the Musi rejuvenation project was also discussed. The Chief Minister requested CR Patil to release funds like those provided for the Ganga and Yamuna projects.
After the meeting, Uttam Kumar Reddy told reporters that the Union Minister responded positively and confirmed that the Apex Council meeting would be scheduled soon. The Union Minister also noted that no DPR for the Banakacharla project had been received.
