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The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BRS spreading false propaganda on safety of Jurala and Manjeera projects, says Irrigation Minister
HYDERABAD Minister for Irrigation and Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday condemned the 'false propaganda and highly condemnable disinformation' being spread by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders over the condition of old irrigation projects such as Jurala and Manjeera. He blamed the ten-year BRS rule for the issues being witnessed today in these projects, as their maintenance was neglected badly and they failed to carry out even routine maintenance. Mr. Reddy announced that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had personally taken interest in safeguarding the Jurala dam by acting decisively to sanction ₹100 crore for an alternative bridge. The Chief Minister's move is intended to reduce heavy vehicular traffic on the Jurala dam surface and prevent any long-term damage to the dam structure, he said. 'The Chief Minister is particular that Jurala must be protected and ensured the sanction of a new bridge,' the Irrigation Minister said. He explained that allegations regarding ropes and stroke gates at Jurala are a non-issue, and the BRS leaders are trying to spread false propaganda. The Minister reaffirmed that the Congress government is sincere and fully committed to properly maintaining all old projects, while building new ones for the long-term irrigation needs of Telangana. 'We are systematically restoring every project they ignored – Jurala, Manjeera, Nagarjuna Sagar, Sriramsagar, Kalwakurthy, Koilsagar, Bhima – with top priority for Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme,' he noted. He pointed out that no minimum operation and maintenance was carried out during the BRS rule from 2014 to 2023. There was no routine desiltation, no sediment or vegetation removal and no upgrades, he stated. 'Jurala's capacity alone has dropped by nearly 20–25% due to silt accumulation,' he noted. Meanwhile, Chief Engineer B. Venkata Ramana Reddy explained in detail the ongoing maintenance works at Jurala stating that all 62 gates were being regularly checked. Four rope replacements had already been completed, with another four scheduled soon, ensuring the dam's flood readiness by mid-July. 'Most of the 62 gates are in perfect working condition and there is no threat,' he clarified.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
The troubled waters of Godavari
A fresh row has erupted between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh over the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project. The project, which will divert 200 tmc ft of Godavari water to the Krishna and Penna basins, aims to provide drinking and irrigation water to the drought-hit Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. The Andhra Pradesh government has already submitted the pre-feasibility report on the project to the Central Water Commission (CWC). The CWC has now asked the State to now furnish a detailed project report (DPR). In addition, the Centre has offered to fund 50% of the total cost of the project, which is an estimated ₹80,000 crore, as part of the interlinking of rivers; the remaining will be financed through borrowing beyond the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) limits. This has upset Telangana as the Centre had reduced the State's borrowing limits under the FRBM Act citing the State's off-budget borrowings to complete the Kaleshwaram project on time. Both the Congress, which is in power in Telangana, and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which is in the Opposition, believe that the project violates the State's riparian rights regarding Godavari waters as well as the provisions of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. But the two parties are also busy blaming each other for 'allowing' Andhra Pradesh to plan the project. The other significant Opposition party in the State — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — has remained largely silent. This is possibly because the BJP government at the Centre has the support of the Telugu Desam Party, the ruling party of Andhra Pradesh. This, the Telangana government believes, has given the Andhra Pradesh government the advantage of getting things done with quick approvals from the Centre. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy squarely blamed the previous BRS government for Andhra Pradesh's decision to take up the Godavari diversion project. They cited the first apex council meeting of September 21, 2016, as evidence. That was when the then Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, had stated that 3,000 tmc ft of Godavari water discharges into the sea on average annually and could instead be utilised if there was an 'understanding' between the two States. The BRS objected to this argument saying Mr. Rao had also 'raised objections over the diversion of water from the Godavari to the Krishna without prior consultation of Telangana' during the same apex council meeting. Former Minister for Irrigation, T. Harish Rao, said that the Congress is deliberately misleading the people. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh was conspiring to divert Godavari waters to claim rights on it in the future by seeking re-allocation of water by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal. He termed the Congress government's 'soft approach' to the project as a 'mortgaging of Telangana's water rights' and said that this was 'Mr. Revanth Reddy's 'gurudakshina' to his political mentor N. Chandrababu Naidu'. Mr. Rao said that just as the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had diverted Krishna waters from Srisailam to the non-basin (Penna) areas by expanding the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator, now Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was diverting Godavari waters at the cost of Telangana's riparian rights. Mr. Naidu emphasised that the project is essential. Arguing that the Godavari has ample surplus water, he asked why Telangana should object to the use of water that was anyway flowing into the sea. The BRS in turn demanded to know why the Andhra Pradesh government had objected to the Kaleshwaram project if ample water was indeed available in the Godavari. The President of the Telangana Retired Engineers' Association, M. Shyamprasad Reddy, suggested that the Centre carry out the appraisal of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project only after protecting the rights of the people of Telangana by giving permissions/clearances/approvals to all the ongoing and contemplated projects in the Godavari basin. The former chief engineer also suggested that the Centre additionally allocate more than 200 tmc ft of water in the Krishna basin in lieu of the diversion of Godavari water to other basins. Water-sharing is a sensitive issue and is linked to the economy and regional sentiments. The Centre would do well to be as unbiased as possible when dealing with inter-State water disputes.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. asks Centre not to give clearances to Banakacharla-Polavaram project of A.P.
Taking strong objections to the Banakacharla-Polavaram project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government, the Telangana Government has said that the project of the neighbouring State is in gross violation of existing norms and will adversely affect the interests of the State. Government said that the neighbouring State cannot stake claim on the surplus water unilaterally as the flood water of the river Godavari belonged to all the co-terminus States. 'The project being taken up at a time when Telangana's legitimate water rights are yet to be established is tantamount to infringing upon our rights,' Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy convened a meeting of MPs from all political parties to explain them about the 'harmful effects' of the Polavaram-Banakacharla project on Telangana and take their suggestions on the 'way forward' on the issue. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was present in the meeting which was attended by D.K. Aruna and M. Raghunandan Rao of BJP, Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMIM and V. Ravichandra of BRS in addition to several MPs of the ruling Congress. CM seeks clarifications The meeting featured a power point presentation by Irrigation Department officials on the scope for Banakacharla-Polavaram project. The Chief Minister sought several clarifications on the exact allocation of assured water in Godavari to Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He expressed concern that the neighbouring State planned to utilise over 300 tmc ft water additionally in the name of the proposed project. 'While the pre-feasibility report submitted by the AP Government says it plans to draw 2 tmc ft a day, it is in fact constructing civil works enabling it to draw more than 300 tmc ft,' he said. Officials explained the Chief Minister that the neighbouring State was expanding the capacity of the project with lining works enabling it to draw 8 tmc ft water a day. Mr. Revanth Reddy expressed concern that if allowed, the neighbouring State would continue to divert water from Krishna basin through Pattiseema project in addition to drawing additional water from Godavari. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the State had already addressed communication to AP and the Centre to convene a special emergency meeting of the Polavaram Project Authority urging it to reject the proposed project as it was against the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. The pre-feasibility report submitted by AP completely ignores Telangana in spite of being a co-basin State with no mention of State's projects in it. He expressed concern that AP had decided to change the operational schedule of the project without consulting the co-basin States including Telangana which was mandatory. 'This will result in cascading submergence issues to Telangana, especially for key areas like temple town Bhadrachalam and Manuguru heavy water plant,' he said. He lamented that the Central Government appeared to be going ahead in giving its nod to the project in spite of objections raised by Telangana. 'Myself and Chief Minister gave a written representation to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil conveying our concerns about the proposed project on March 3 this year. The Union Minister assured that the concerns of Telangana would be factored in before giving the clearances. But AP is going ahead with its plans,' he recalled. The State Government had therefore decided to call on the Union Jal Shakti Minister again to express Telangana's strong opposition to the project that would adversely impact the interests of the State as well as its future projects.
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Row over river waters deepens, State seeks opinion of MPs on A.P. proposal
The State government will seek inputs from all Members of Parliament (MPs) from Telangana before finalising its stance on the Godavari-Banakacherla project proposed by Andhra Pradesh. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Tuesday announced that a meeting with MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, will be held at his office at the Secretariat here on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will be the chief guest at the meeting, which will also be attended by Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar. Mr. Uttam Reddy said the State has urged the Centre to reject the pre-feasibility report of the Godavari-Banakacherla project, which is currently being reviewed by the Central Water Commission (CWC) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. A presentation on the project is expected during the meeting, following which suggestions and feedback from the MPs will be invited. Meanwhile, BRS senior leader and former Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao has urged Mr. Uttam Reddy to press Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to immediately convene an Apex Council meeting to address what he called a violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. Mr. Uttam Reddy rejected Mr. Rao's claim that Telangana would gain 112.5 tmc ft of Krishna water if 80 tmc ft is diverted to the Krishna Delta through the Polavaram project. He called the suggestion 'absolutely wrong' and said it would severely harm Telangana's water rights and interests. He also urged Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to reject Andhra Pradesh's request for Terms of Reference for the modified Polavaram Irrigation Project. He accused the A.P. government of repeatedly violating environmental clearances and tribunal allocations, warning that such actions are not only detrimental to riparian principles but also legally untenable. In a letter sent on Monday, Mr. Uttam Reddy alleged that A.P. has made massive and unauthorised alterations to components of the PIP in both the Krishna and Godavari basins. He said these changes exceed the scope permitted under the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uttam urges Centre not to allow modifications to Polavaram
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav urging the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to reject the proposal for Terms of Reference (ToR) sought by Andhra Pradesh for the modified Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP). He alleged that the AP government's actions represent consistent violations of environmental clearances and tribunal allocations, calling them detrimental to riparian interests and legally untenable. In his letter on Monday, Mr. Uttam stated that Andhra Pradesh has carried out massive deviations in both the Krishna and Godavari basins by enlarging the scope of several components of the PIP, in violation of the permissions accorded by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award (GWDTA) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). He recalled that the Polavaram project originally received Environmental Clearance from MoEF under letter No. J-12011/74/2005-IA-1 dated October 25, 2005. However, the Andhra Pradesh government later implemented extensive changes without obtaining fresh clearance, prompting the Ministry to issue a 'Stop Work Order' on February 8, 2011. Although the order was issued due to the unapproved changes in the project's scope, it was kept in abeyance and has been repeatedly extended, most recently until July 2, 2026. This allowed the works to continue despite objections raised not only by Telangana but also by Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The Minister further pointed out that the Polavaram project, after being granted 'National Project' status by the government of India, continues to receive reimbursement of expenditures, but only for components that were approved under the original scope. 'Yet the AP government has proceeded with major infrastructural modifications,' he wrote. Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy referred to the Supreme Court's order dated September 6, 2022, which clearly observed that 'there are some technical reports available but more may be required depending on the expansion of the project. Similarly, the issue of the environmental clearances would also have to be addressed.' The Court had also suggested that the Minister of Jal Shakti and MoEF&CC play a pioneering role by convening a meeting of all stakeholders to resolve the contentious issues. In his communication, the Minister warned that AP has gone far beyond the approved project parameters. 'The connectivity to draw water from the head sluice of the Polavaram Right Main Canal (PIPRMC) is now being designed for 40,000 cusecs, while the original design was for 20,000 cusecs. Twin tunnels, each with a discharge capacity of 20,000 cusecs, are under execution, and the infrastructure at the headworks has already been created accordingly,' he pointed out. He added that the PIPRMC is being executed with a drawal capacity of 17,560 cusecs against the DPR-approved 11,654 cusecs. Similarly, the Polavaram Left Main Canal (PIPLMC) is being constructed with the same 17,560 cusecs capacity, though only 8,123 cusecs were originally approved. He stressed that these changes in drawal capacities and the 'extensive alterations in the dimensional features of the project components' amount to a complete redesign of the project, undertaken without requisite clearances or approvals. The Minister strongly urged the MoEF&CC not to undertake any appraisal of the Andhra Pradesh government's project proposal in the forthcoming meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). 'In view of all the above, especially in the interest of justice, it is requested not to undertake any appraisal of this project proposal and outrightly reject the grant of ToR in the upcoming meeting of EAC,' he concluded.
