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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues
The Union government on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level expert committee comprising officials and technical experts within a week to resolve pending inter-state water issues related to Krishna and Godavari river projects between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Centre to form panel to resolve Andhra-Telangana water issues The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil with Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu, along with irrigation ministers of both states at Shram Shakti Bhavan in New Delhi. 'To address the remaining issues in a comprehensive and technical manner, it was decided to constitute a committee,' the Jal Shakti ministry said in a statement, adding the committee will collaboratively assess outstanding issues and recommend equitable and technically viable solutions. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Revanth Reddy said both states decided to form a committee of officials and engineers to deliberate on water disputes. 'The committee's report will guide future action,' the Telangana CM said. While Andhra Pradesh irrigation minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said his government had submitted a written proposal to the Centre on the controversial Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), the Telangana CM said the issue did not come up for discussion at all. 'The Polavaram-Banakacherla project issue wasn't part of the agenda. So, the question of having a discussion on the issue and debating its cancellation did not arise,' the Congress leader said. 'The meeting went on in a cordial manner and the outcome was in favour of Telangana… Some people want conflicts between the states. But our agenda is to resolve disputes peacefully, not to provoke fights.' The meeting also saw agreement on installing telemetry instruments at all off-take points along the Krishna river and its canals to measure the exact quantity of water being drawn by both the states. 'We requested the Centre to support telemetry installation due to doubts about Krishna water usage. Even if the Centre does not fund it, the Telangana government will allocate funds. The previous government showed no urgency, but we've now decided to move forward,' Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Both states also agreed that the Godavari River Management Board will be headquartered in Telangana, while the Krishna River Management Board will be based in Andhra Pradesh, he said. His Andhra Pradesh counterpart Ramanaidu said: 'This committee will draft a roadmap to provide justice to both states. Though governed by different parties, we are Telugu people and must work together.' He added that Andhra Pradesh had agreed to take steps for the protection of Srisailam project. 'The meeting discussed the need to take up repairs and safety measures. The Centre will act based on the expert committee's recommendations,' Ramanaidu added. The TDP leader said that Andhra Pradesh had submitted its proposal on the Polavaram-Banakacherla project which would utilise only surplus water flowing into the sea. 'We presented 100-year flow averages in the river, noting that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water enters the sea annually, and the project would divert only 200 TMC,' he added. The NDA-led Andhra Pradesh government said the project would not harm upper riparian states and urged Telangana and the Centre to understand its position being a lower riparian state. It also emphasised that the state had not opposed any Telangana project in the last 11 years.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
PBLP needs revision of Polavaram project DPR as it changes scope: GRMB to CWC
HYDERABAD The Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) has observed that the diversion of an additional 200 tmc ft water from Polavaram Project planned by Andhra Pradesh through the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) will change the scope of the project (Polavaram) and it requires the revision of the detailed project report of the Polavaram dam. In its observations on the pre-feasibility report (PFR) sent to the Central Water Commission, the river board noted that the DPR of Polavaram project was approved by the Advisory Committee of the Department of Water Resources on January 20, 2009 and the changes planned now needs to be placed before the same for approval again. 'The diversion of 2 tmc ft water per day from Polavaram dam may lead to modification of the operation schedule of Polavaram project as per the agreement of April 2, 1980 between the erstwhile States of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Any change in the operational schedule shall be made only after consultation with the three erstwhile States', the GRMB said in its communication sent to the CWC. With regard to diversion of Godavari waters to the Krishna Basin, the river board stated that it was agreed by the States that if the diversion at 75% dependability exceeds the quantity of 80 tmc ft due to the diversion of Godavari water from Polavaram to the Krishna Basin, such excess quantity shall also be shared among the upper riparian States — erstwhile A.P. (Telangana), Karnataka and Maharashtra in the same proportion as 80 tmc ft is shared among them. Further, it suggested that the CWC may take care of the provisions of GWDT and KWDT Awards which refer to the river augmentation of Krishna with diversion of water from any other river and the State (A.P.) needs to clarify whether the proposed project (PBLP) will utilised surplus water or flood water of Godavari. The river board noted that the AP Reorganisation Act stipulates regulation of river water to the successor States having regard to awards of the tribunals. In case GWDT did not quantify the water availability in Godavari Basin and apportioned among the basin States, agreements between the co-basin States were made part of it. Thus, 'there is no apportionment of Godavari water allocated to erstwhile A.P. between the successor States by any tribunal nor any mutual agreement between them and CWC may take note of it'. The PFR mentioned that the cost estimate of the project does not include the cost of creation of infrastructure for the new ayacut of 3 lakh hectares (7,41,315 acres). But the DPR shall include all components while arriving at the total cost of the project. The river board also urged the CWC to ensure the committed utilisations of existing, ongoing and contemplated projects of both the States (Telangana, A.P.).
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
KTR accepts Revanth Reddy's ‘challenge' for debate on river water allocation, asks Telangana CM to decide venue in 72 hours
HYDERABAD Working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), K.T. Rama Rao, has accepted the 'challenge' thrown at the party (BRS) leadership by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at 'Samvidhan celebration' public meeting on Friday (July 4, 2025) for a debate on the issues pertaining to river water allocation and injustices to Telangana. 'Mr. Revanth Reddy can decide the venue of his choice for the debate at Kondareddypalle, Chintamadaka, Kodangal, Gajwel, Assembly or Ambedkar statue in the next 72 hours. Else, he could come to Press Club at 11 am on July 8 as I (KTR) would be waiting there for the debate', Mr. Rama Rao said addressing a press conference in Hyderabad on Saturday (July 5, 2025). 'I prefer Mr. Revanth Reddy to come for the debate as it would make things clear once for all or he could send his senior colleague. They could make ample preparation in the next 72 hours as issues related to water sharing are difficult to understand for the Congress leaders, while the BRS leaders lived with it all along the Statehood moved. I would personally come for the debate as BRS chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would be too big for Mr. Reddy's level', the BRS working president said. Every Telanganite was aware as to what was the status of the farm sector in Telangana till 2014 and how it had transformed during 2014-23. He stated that several novel initiatives including increase in the irrigation facilities, free power for farming round-the-clock and timely supply of all other inputs by the BRS administration had made farming a celebration in Telangana and led the State to become top paddy producer in the country, displacing Punjab. Introduction of investment/input support, life insurance cover to every landholder and 24-hour free power supply to farming were the hallmark of BRS rule, as such interventions were made for the first time anywhere in the world. The Chief Minister Mr. Revanth Reddy was aware of everything but not ready to accept the reality and facts, Mr. Rama Rao said. Stating that denial of water for irrigation and drinking needs and power supply to farm sector along with discrimination in allocation of funds and jobs had led to the birth of the ultimate phase of the Statehood movement along, the BRS leader pointed out several failures and betrayal of promises made to the farming and other dependent sectors made in the name of Rythu Declaration and others, in detail. He said that Mr. Revanth Reddy too was fighting for water and funds but the only difference was that he was allowing Andhra Pradesh to illegally divert Godavari water to the non-basin areas in violation of the rights of Telangana within the basin in the name of Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and sending funds to Delhi (Congress leadership).
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- 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
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
What prompted EAC to reject AP's Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project proposal?
VIJAYAWADA: The Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), announced by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in 2024 during his second term, has sparked intense debate. Aimed at transforming the State's water landscape, the project seeks to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater from the Polavaram Dam to the Banakacherla Regulator or Srisailam Right Main Canal. However, the proposal has been returned by the Central Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), amid legal, environmental, and interstate concerns. Telangana's objections and criticism from water resource experts, who call the project 'beyond logic,' have further fuelled the controversy. The PBLP is a bold initiative to combat water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. Spanning 2,40,604 hectares across eight districts, including East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Rayalaseema, it involves expanding the Polavaram Right Main Canal's capacity from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs, and the Thatipudi Lift Irrigation Scheme's canal from 1,400 to 10,000 cusecs. A new reservoir at Bollapalli in Guntur district, supported by lift stations at Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, and Nakirekallu, will channel water to Banakacherla and Veligonda reservoirs through a 19.5-km tunnel in the Nallamala forest. The project aims to irrigate 3 lakh hectares of new ayacut, stabilise 9.14 lakh hectares of existing ayacut, provide drinking water to 80 lakh people, allocate 20 TMC for industrial use, and generate 400 MW of hydropower. Costing an estimated Rs 81,900 crore, it requires Rs 54,000 acres of land, and 4,000 MW of power, with Naidu seeking Central funding to address financial challenges. Reasons for project rejection The EAC, under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, rejected the PBLP proposal due to significant legal and environmental issues. Telangana claimed the project violates the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award, which requires consultation with co-basin States like Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The EAC has highlighted unresolved submergence concerns in Odisha and Chhattisgarh tied to the Polavaram project, which are still under judicial review. The Central Water Commission's 2018 report, stating no surplus water at Polavaram at 75% dependability, contradicted Andhra Pradesh's floodwater diversion claims. The EAC has instructed AP to resolve interstate disputes, and secure CWC clearance before resubmitting it.
