Godavari-Banakacherla link project: Revanth Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi for crucial river water talks; Telangana opposes Rs 81,900 crore Andhra project
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with his irrigation minister and senior officials, will attend the closed-door meeting scheduled for 2.30 pm. Later in the evening, chief minister Revanth Reddy and Uttam are likely to address the media in the national capital.
The two Telugu states are at loggerheads over the river water sharing issue, especially over the Andhra govt's proposed Rs 81,900 crore Banakacherla project.
Telangana has raised serious objections to the project, stating it would adversely affect the river water interests of the state.
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In tune with its stand, on Tuesday, a day ahead of the meeting, the Telangana govt sent a letter to the ministry, urging it to revise the meeting agenda. The letter requested that any discussion on the Godavari-Banakacherla link project be deferred until all statutory requirements, inter-state consultations, and clearances are fully complied with and all objections are resolved.
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Meanwhile, the Andhra govt submitted its agenda to the jal shakti ministry, focusing solely on the Banakacherla project. This marks the second letter from the Telangana govt to the Union ministry in as many days.
'Project illegal'
In the letter, Telangana's chief secretary urged a revision of the meeting agenda and termed the Banakacherla project 'illegal', citing lack of approvals from key regulatory bodies such as the Godavari and Krishna river management boards (GRMB and KRMB), the central water commission (CWC), and the expert appraisal committee of the Union environment ministry.
Stating that the expert appraisal committee already rejected Andhra's pre-feasibility report for the Banakacherla project, the state govt said discussion on the Banakacherla now is premature and undermines the credibility of national water regulatory institutions.
Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar said the need is to prioritise long-pending projects such as the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi schemes. Telangana submitted its own agenda for the July 16 talks, which includes the allocation of 80 TMC for the Pranahita project at Tummadihatti, approval for a floodwater utilisation plan at Inchampalli (200 TMC), and recognition of key lift irrigation schemes as national projects.
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