Latest news with #PolavaramBanakacherlaLinkProject
Hindustan Times
2 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.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu, revanth Reddy to meet Jal Shakti Minister over ₹81,900 cr Polavaram-Banakacherla link project
The Centre has called a joint meeting of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana chief ministers on Wednesday to iron out differences between the two states over Rs 81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project , which proposes to bring Godavari floodwaters to the state's parched region. Jal Shakti minister C R Paatil will meet Andhra chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy together on Wednesday over the project. Naidu government has proposed this ambitious inter-linking project to connect Krishna and Godavari basins and transferring Godavari floodwaters to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region through the Krishna basin . The project involves construction of a new reservoir at Bolapalli and using lift stations and tunnels to channel water to Banakacherla and Veligonda reservoirs. On its part, Telangana has objected to Naidu's proposal saying this violates provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 and the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980. Concerns have also been raised about the project's impact on several regions, including the temple town of Bhadrachalam. Andhra Pradesh had approached the environment ministry for clearances despite Telangana's objections. However, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) had returned the proposal and asked the state to first have it examined by Central Water Commission under Jal Shakti ministry. The joint meeting has been called by Paatil following on this. In a letter to Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Paatil had assured, '… the Central Water Commission, under my ministry, will duly examine it in accordance with the extant guidelines, existing Tribunal Awards/ Inter-state Agreements and various provisions under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 and appropriate action will be taken.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Lifetime Office 365 Download Undo Earlier, Andhra Pradesh had already fast tracked the project by inviting tenders under Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Naidu had requested the Centre for support through externally aided projects (EAP) and allocation under the Budget. Naidu has requested that 50% of the project cost be funded through EAP loans and about 20% as a grant. However, Telangana's objections have put a spanner in the works.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Rethinking an ambitious project
The Andhra Pradesh government's ₹81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project, which aims to transfer surplus water from the Godavari river to Banakacherla in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region, is in limbo. This is a contentious project as Telangana argues that it violates the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014. Last week, the expert appraisal committee denied clearance for the terms of reference required to conduct the environmental impact assessment and environmental management plan for the project. The committee argued that the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal award must first be examined and that the Central Water Commission (CWC) should be consulted before any environmental approvals are granted. The government has not yet commented on this decision. A political dialogue between the Chief Ministers of A.P. and Telangana may be necessary to move the project forward. While the bold project seems to be a solution to Rayalaseema's acute water scarcity, a troubling question lies behind the grand ambition. Is the State mortgaging its future for a project that may never be economically viable or ecologically sound? On paper, the project is an engineering marvel. However, its scale demands scrutiny, particularly when weighed against its energy costs, environmental footprint, and legal uncertainties. The project will require an estimated 3,377 MW of power. This is a staggering demand for a fiscally stressed State. Officials point out that the scheme will eventually generate around 430 MW; this is barely a fraction of what is needed to run it. The environment footprint of the project is alarming. The 19.5-kilometre-long main tunnel will cut through the ecologically sensitive Nallamala forest and tiger reserve. A total of 17,739 acres of forest land is proposed for use. It is also unclear why the State is opting for an energy-intensive solution when gravity-fed alternatives exist. The Krishna river, particularly the Srisailam reservoir, offers a natural gradient that could irrigate Rayalaseema with significantly less financial and environmental cost. Gravity-based projects such as Galeru-Nagari, conceived decades ago for this very purpose, remain unfinished. The project is being proposed under the hybrid annuity model, which combines Central grants, State equity, loans, and private investment. A special-purpose vehicle, Jalaharathi Corporation, has been set up to execute it. The funding model envisions ₹40,950 crore in loans, ₹16,380 crore in Central grants, ₹8,190 crore in State equity, and ₹16,380 crore through private investment. Unusually, the responsibility for obtaining critical clearances from various ministries and from the CWC is being placed on contractors. Even if the finances and power needs are somehow managed, the project hinges on the assumption that excess floodwaters from the Godavari are flowing wastefully into the sea. But this is unverified. And as noted earlier, the committee has already denied permission for the terms of reference. Without clearance from the CWC, Central funding is uncertain. Telangana's Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project sets a cautionary precedent. The CWC refused to approve an add-on component after determining that water availability projections were exaggerated. The A.P. government's proposal may face similar resistance, especially in the absence of a formal agreement on sharing surplus Godavari flows. Telangana has already raised objections under the A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014, which mandates that all new projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers receive clearances from river management boards. A.P., however, argues that this is an intra-State project using floodwater headed for the sea. It is a legal grey zone that could lead to years of litigation. In recent years, A.P. has often found its interests sidelined. The Centre supported Karnataka's Upper Bhadra project just before elections. In Telangana, it adjusted the terms of reference on Krishna water allocation just before elections. As the TDP is back in the NDA fold, speculation is rife that the Godavari-Banakacherla project could become a political bargaining chip. Rayalaseema's long-term water security should not be reduced to Delhi's short-term arithmetic. At the same time, development in Rayalaseema must happen through projects that are sustainable, legally defensible, and based on hydrological realities.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Chandrababu Naidu's proposal to use Godavari floodwaters for Andhra Pradesh returned by green panel
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Faced with strong opposition from Telangana, the Chandrababu Naidu government's Rs 81,900 crore Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) - proposed to bring Godavari flood waters to Andhra Pradesh's arid region - has run into rough weather with the Union environment a June 17 meeting, the ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for environmental clearance has "returned" the project proposal, citing "several representations" on it alleging that the project may violate the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980. The committee has asked the Andhra government to instead consult the Central Water Commission (CWC) first on the "inter-state" matter and only then approach the EAC. It has also noted the project's linkage with the Indira Sagar Polavaram Multipurpose Project which was given environmental clearance way back on January 25, 2005, but is sub-judice due to submergence-related issues in the states of Odisha and light of the same, the EAC has recommended that the Andhra government should "comprehensively assess the availability of floodwaters in consultation with the CWC". Furthermore, the EAC 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 PP should approach CWC for examining the inter-state issues and granting necessary clearance/permission before submitting the proposal for framing the TOR for conducting EIA study. The EAC decided to return the proposal on the above lines," the minutes of the EAC meeting have was first to report on the ambitious project being piloted by the Naidu government with the chief minister himself taking the lead, holding rounds of reviews to ensure that the project secures green clearances at the earliest. The state aims to start construction on it by March 2026 and complete it by May 2029 and has been fast tracking pre-construction requirements AP government, in fact, readied its mandatory pre-feasibility report for the project and submitted its proposal to the EAC by June 5, for consideration at the June 17 meet. The project, however, has ruffled Telangana Naidu government has submitted to the Centre that the PBLP is aimed at making Andhra Pradesh a "drought-proof state" by utilising only the flood waters of river Godavari, a contention that Telangana finds unacceptable. The Revantha Reddy-led government has held that the project is violative of the AP Reorganisation Act of 2014 as well as the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980. Reddy had called on Union jal shakti minister CR Patil on June 19 to underline his concerns on the issue.
