Latest news with #Godavari-BanakacherlaLink
News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Daily Digest July 16 EAM China Visit TDP Urges EC to Clarify SIR Norms FAUJA SINGH Dies
In today's podcast, we bring you the top stories making headlines in India and around the world:• EAM S. Jaishankar made India's position clear in a strong worded remark both at the SCO Summit & in a meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi .Jaishankar said —India hopes that zero tolerance for terrorism will be strongly upheld.• TDP to EC on SIR: the purpose of SIR must be clearly defined and limited to electoral roll correction and incluision. TDP to EC on SIR: it should be explicitly communicated that the excecise is not related to citizenship verification and any field instructions must reflect this distinction• CM Mamata Banerjee and AITC's National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will lead a protest rally in Kolkata, responding to what the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has described as continued harassment and targeting of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states.• A day before meeting between the 2 state CMs - The Telangana government has raised strong objections to the inclusion of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link• Another VIP Brat's shocker MP Cong MLA Sena Patel's son tries to run over cop, his electric pole in Alirajpur city, attempt to murder case filed.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Irrigation expert averse to Banakacherla link project
Hyderabad: Amidst the escalating political dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Vedire Sriram, a prominent irrigation expert and Chairman of the Task Force on Interlinking of Rivers, Government of India, has expressed opposition to the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla Link project. He asserted that the project contravenes the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award. Sriram, who also served as a former Advisor to the Jal Shakti ministry, highlighted that the project's construction, utilising floodwaters, is not permitted under the tribunal award. He further noted that the project lacks the mandatory 70 per cent water dependability required for approval by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Union Ministry. He explained that the Pre-Feasibility Report suggests floodwaters from Polavaram Dam would be diverted to the River Krishna (Prakasam Barrage) through a new parallel canal alongside the Polavaram Right Main Canal, with a capacity of 510 cumecs. In this regard, the government should clarify how 'flood water' is being defined and how its computation is being done. The Andhra Pradesh government should also clarify whether it conforms to the GWDT award. 'The CWC received a pre-feasibility report, and the legality of water utilisation is important,' Sriram stated. 'The Commission has asked Andhra Pradesh about the dependability of water for the proposed 200 TMC project. A list of 7 states' projects, assured water, and unapproved projects was also sought from Andhra Pradesh.' Sriram cautioned that 'operational problems will arise once Banakacherla is completed without water allocations for the project.' The irrigation expert also mentioned that Telangana is already opposing the Banakacherla project, and the ministry has already sought opinions from co-basin states, primarily Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Odisha. He predicted that once these states voice their concerns, the demand for opposing the project would be strengthened.
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
State govt will proceed with legal action to stop Banakacherla project: Telangana minister Uttam Reddy
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 26 (ANI): Telangana Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday held a comprehensive review meeting with senior irrigation officials at Jala Saudha and issued a series of firm directions aimed at protecting Telangana's water rights and expediting key infrastructure projects. He declared that the Telangana Government would go ahead with legal proceedings to stop the Andhra Pradesh Government's Godavari-Banakacherla Link project, which he described as illegal and detrimental to the state's interests. The minister instructed officials to prepare the legal roadmap to challenge the project immediately and ensure that Telangana's case is strongly represented. The review meeting gains added significance in the backdrop of recent developments, where Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Uttam Kumar Reddy gave a detailed representation to Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil in New Delhi, strongly objecting to the Godavari-Banakacherla proposal. During the meeting held on June 19, the Telangana delegation urged the Centre not to approve the project's pre-feasibility report and highlighted its potential to disrupt Telangana's existing allocations and usage plans. The Union Minister assured the state leadership that no approval had yet been granted and promised to call an Apex Council meeting soon to deliberate on the matter, release stated. Further reinforcing the state's commitment, Uttam Kumar Reddy announced that a detailed presentation on the Godavari-Banakacherla Link project will be held at Praja Bhavan on June 30 at 3 pm. He directed that the presentation be updated to include clear documentation on how the project originated during the previous BRS regime, thus exposing the 'political background' behind Andhra's current move, it mentioned. Uttam Kumar Reddy discussed the process of inducting two distinguished Army officers, renowned for their expertise in tunnel technology, into the Telangana Irrigation Department to oversee tunnel-related and other irrigation works in the state. These officers were recently involved in the execution of the Rohtang and Zojila tunnel projects. General Harpal Singh, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Indian Army, has been invited to join the Telangana Irrigation Department as an Honorary Advisor. Colonel Parikshit Mehra, an internationally acclaimed expert in tunnel technologies and construction, will be joining the department in July. Turning his attention to critical issues within Telangana, the minister reviewed the findings of the National Dam Safety Authority on the damaged barrages of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla. He directed officials to implement the NDSA's recommendations without delay. He was informed by the officials that the NDSA itself had offered to work as the design consultant for restoration works. Emphasising the urgency of the situation, he demanded weekly progress reports and warned that restoration must proceed on a war-footing basis in accordance with Central Water Commission guidelines. He also reviewed the status of other major works, including the Singur Canal, where tenders have already been called. Uttam Kumar Reddy asked officials to expedite the formalities and ensure the agreements are signed at the earliest. Regarding the Dindi project, he was briefed about the ongoing inter-linkage coordination and the post-borewell design process. He directed officials to meet the respective District Collectors to speed up land acquisition and fast-track project execution. On the Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project, officials informed the minister that proposals had been sought from several agencies, including reputed international firms. The minister insisted that a LIDAR survey be conducted, stating that while cost was not a constraint, quality and speed were paramount. He directed officials to deploy the best manpower, equipment, infrastructure, and advanced technologies available in the country. If necessary, additional manpower must be recruited to ensure the project proceeds at a rapid pace. He further directed that SLBC work be reviewed on a daily basis. Addressing longstanding administrative issues, Uttam Kumar Reddy ordered immediate action on pending promotions and transfers within the department. A delegation of Assistant Executive Engineers met him during the meeting and pointed out that their promotions to the rank of Deputy Executive Engineer had been delayed for over 18 years, with 125 DEE posts currently vacant. The minister assured them that all pending promotions and transfers would be completed without any further delay. Regarding the desiltation and desedimentation of major irrigation projects, the minister noted that the Government of India had issued national guidelines and even constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to address the issue, given that many reservoirs have lost 20-25 per cent of their storage capacity. He enquired about the status of desiltation works in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nizam Sagar, and other key reservoirs. Specifically, he instructed officials to begin the desiltation process at Nagarjuna Sagar and formally inform the Andhra Pradesh Government about the move. He also enquired into the progress of the Devadula project's Package-3 and gave directions to expedite the works. On the Sitarama project, he asked officials to identify ways to include additional packages within the existing budget so that progress is not stalled due to funding limitations. Uttam Kumar Reddy concluded the review meeting with a clear message that there should be no delays in the execution of irrigation projects. He announced that weekly reviews would be held to monitor the progress of each work, and strict action would be taken against officials who fail to meet timelines. He also directed that both operations and maintenance of irrigation assets and land acquisition processes must continue smoothly without any hindrances, financial or otherwise, release stated. (ANI)
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
EAC holds meeting on Polavaram–Banakacherla Project
The Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment convened a meeting to discuss the environmental clearance for the Godavari-Banakacherla Project on Tuesday (June 17, 2025). The committee is led by Professor Chakrapani, and the meeting was held in virtual mode from the Ministry's office in New Delhi. As part of this meeting, the committee is reviewing the proposal submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government and will evaluate the environmental impact of the Banakacherla project. The Water Resources Department officials consider the meeting of the EAC as a major milestone in the approval process. The committee is now assessing the likely environmental consequences of undertaking the project. Based on the committee's report, subsequent permissions will be considered. Recognising the importance of the moment, the A.P. Government is treating this meeting with utmost seriousness. The A.P. Government would be asked to conduct the environmental impact, studies, etc. The EAC, at present, is studying the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link project proposed by Andhra Pradesh. The EAC's evaluation report will play a critical role in determining the project's future permissions. At a later stage, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared. The EAC meeting assumes significance in the wake of the Telangana Government's serious objections to the project. Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has written a letter to the EAC, urging it not to grant any approval and to outrightly reject the Banakacherla Project. He stated that the Andhra Pradesh Government was moving ahead with the project without prior consent or notification to Telangana. The project seeks to divert the Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, which he claims will result in violating Telangana's legitimate water rights. He strongly urged that no environmental clearance be granted to the project.
