Latest news with #ExpertAppraisalCommittee
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra takes up measures to get project clearance for Polavaram-Banakacherla
VIJAYAWADA: In the wake of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) returning the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) proposal, the Andhra Pradesh government is undertaking a series of proactive measures to obtain project clearance. The authorities were of the opinion that the proposal, which sought only the Terms of Reference (ToR), was unjustly returned, as it was not requesting final approval but merely a framework for further evaluation. It is learnt that the Water Resources Department had already submitted the proposal of PBLP to the Central Water Commission (CWC) even before the EAC had recommended it, while returning the proposal to the State. The EAC instructed AP to resolve interstate disputes and secure CWC clearance before resubmitting. Unresolved submergence concerns in Odisha and Chhattisgarh tied to the Polavaram project, which are still under judicial review. Sources in the government disclosed that the State is actively engaging with the Central government to reverse the EAC's decision while simultaneously working to resolve differences with Telangana to clear obstacles for PBLP. The project aims to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater to irrigate 7.41 lakh acres, stabilise 22.58 lakh acres in Rayalaseema and south coastal districts, and supply industrial water.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MoEF returning Andhra Pradesh's G-B proposal a huge victory for Telangana, says Uttam
HYDERABAD: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday described the decision of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to return a proposal by Andhra Pradesh on the Banakacherla link project as a 'huge victory for Telangana'. Uttam made a detailed PowerPoint presentation on 'The Water Issues of Telangana in Godavari and Krishna River Basins' at Praja Bhavan on Tuesday. During his presentation, he said that the Congress government will not compromise on Telangana's rightful share of waters in the Godavari and Krishna rivers. He said the previous BRS regime had mortgaged Telangana's interests and allowed Andhra Pradesh to push ahead with schemes like the Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) link project because of its 'compromised approach'. The Irrigation minister further said that the Congress government cited multiple legal violations, including disregard for the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award, which allocated flood and surplus waters among co-basin states. He pointed out that the Environmental Clearance (EC) for Polavaram was granted in 2005 for a different project scope, and any large-scale diversion like the G-B project would require fresh environmental assessment under EIA rules. 'We made it crystal clear — Telangana will not allow its hard-earned and historically legitimate rights to be usurped,' he said.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- 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.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Panel under Central ministry returns Andhra's ₹82k Cr Banakacherla project proposal
Hyderabad, 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. Panel under Central ministry returns Andhra's ₹ 82k Cr Banakacherla project proposal In the Minutes of the meeting held on June 17, the Expert Appraisal Committee 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 should approach the Central Water Commission 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. 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. 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 ₹ 81,900 crores at 2025-26 price level. 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. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BRS MLA Harish welcomes EAC's decision on Banakacherla
HYDERABAD: BRS MLA and former Irrigation minister T Harish Rao welcomed the decision of the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment, which decided to 'return' the Andhra Pradesh government's request for Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla Project. Harish Rao on Monday also welcomed the decision of the EAC that the ToR could be not given without examination by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT). 'This is a victory for the BRS party's struggle and a victory for the people of Telangana. This is a strong blow to Andhra Pradesh's conspiracy to illegally divert Telangana's Godavari waters under the name of the Banakacherla project. We want to make it clear that the BRS will continue its fight until the Banakacherla project-designed in a way that causes injustice to Telangana's rightful share of water is completely scrapped,' Harish Rao said.
