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Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Godavari-Banakacherla link project: Revanth Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi for crucial river water talks; Telangana opposes Rs 81,900 crore Andhra project
HYDERABAD: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy and irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy left for New Delhi on Tuesday night to attend the high-stakes inter-state river water sharing meeting between chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, convened by the Union Jal Shakti ministry on Wednesday. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with his irrigation minister and senior officials, will attend the closed-door meeting scheduled for 2.30 pm. Later in the evening, chief minister Revanth Reddy and Uttam are likely to address the media in the national capital. The two Telugu states are at loggerheads over the river water sharing issue, especially over the Andhra govt's proposed Rs 81,900 crore Banakacherla project. Telangana has raised serious objections to the project, stating it would adversely affect the river water interests of the state. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad In tune with its stand, on Tuesday, a day ahead of the meeting, the Telangana govt sent a letter to the ministry, urging it to revise the meeting agenda. The letter requested that any discussion on the Godavari-Banakacherla link project be deferred until all statutory requirements, inter-state consultations, and clearances are fully complied with and all objections are resolved. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Meanwhile, the Andhra govt submitted its agenda to the jal shakti ministry, focusing solely on the Banakacherla project. This marks the second letter from the Telangana govt to the Union ministry in as many days. 'Project illegal' In the letter, Telangana's chief secretary urged a revision of the meeting agenda and termed the Banakacherla project 'illegal', citing lack of approvals from key regulatory bodies such as the Godavari and Krishna river management boards (GRMB and KRMB), the central water commission (CWC), and the expert appraisal committee of the Union environment ministry. Stating that the expert appraisal committee already rejected Andhra's pre-feasibility report for the Banakacherla project, the state govt said discussion on the Banakacherla now is premature and undermines the credibility of national water regulatory institutions. Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar said the need is to prioritise long-pending projects such as the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi schemes. Telangana submitted its own agenda for the July 16 talks, which includes the allocation of 80 TMC for the Pranahita project at Tummadihatti, approval for a floodwater utilisation plan at Inchampalli (200 TMC), and recognition of key lift irrigation schemes as national projects.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana refuses to discuss Banakacherla
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is likely to boycott the meeting convened by Union Jal Shakti Ministry with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on water-sharing disputes in New Delhi on Wednesday as the Central government has put the controversial Banakacherla river-linking project on the agenda. The state government has already raised strong objections to the inclusion of the Banakacherla lift irrigation project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government on the agenda of Wednesday's meeting. An official delegation led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was invited to take part in the meeting to thrash out interstate water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, the Telangana government demanded the Centre to remove the Banakacherla project from the agenda. In a strongly worded letter to the Secretary of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Telangana Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao stated that there is no need to deliberate on the Polavaram (Godavari)-Banakacherla river-linking project, as it lacked necessary permissions and violated various laws and tribunal judgments. Rao pointed out that the project violated the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 by proposing to alter water allocations and project operations without mandatory consultation and consent of all co-basin states. The project also lacked statutory clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the Apex Council, he added. Instead, the Telangana government requested the Centre to include its own pending irrigation projects, which are awaiting approval and financial assistance, as part of the meeting agenda. It reiterated that the Banakacherla project would undermine Telangana's interests and has been objected to in official communications with the Centre. It also sought, among others, allocation of 80 TMC to the Pranahita project on Godavari River and financial assistance for it. Meanwhile, the Telangana government has decided to intensify efforts and "mount pressure" on the Centre to safeguard its rightful share of Krishna and Godavari River waters. The state government would push for Central approvals for its projects on the Krishna River, seek finalisation of water allocations and request financial assistance for the projects, according to an official statement. The Telangana government also accused the previous BRS regime of 'failing' to secure the state's share in Krishna waters despite being in power for 10 years. The BRS government had agreed to Telangana getting 299 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic feet) of water as its share, while neighbouring Andhra Pradesh got 512 TMC, it said. The government further alleged that the BRS government remained silent while Andhra diverted Krishna water and built 'illegal' projects.
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Telangana govt opposes Banakacharla agenda in upcoming CMs meeting
The Telangana government has formally expressed its objections to the agenda set by Andhra Pradesh regarding the Banakacharla project, ahead of a meeting called by the Union Water Resources Minister, CR Patil. In a letter to the Centre, Telangana made it clear that it sees no need to discuss the Banakacharla project during the forthcoming meeting scheduled for the 16th of this month. Instead, the state has suggested prioritising discussions on pending projects related to the Krishna River. Among its proposals, Telangana has sought national status for the Palamuru and Dindi projects, advocated for the Ichchampalli project to be taken up by the Centre, and requested the allocation of 80 TMC of water for the Pranahita project at Thummadihetti. Furthermore, Telangana has proposed a new initiative to harness 200 TMC of flood water. In its correspondence, the Telangana government highlighted that there have been no approvals for the Banakacharla project and that relevant laws and tribunal judgments are being violated. Consequently, officials argue that it is inappropriate to discuss the Godavari-Banakacharla link project, warning that such actions could undermine trust in the central government's regulatory agencies. The meeting, intended to address the concerns of both Telugu states, will now take place at 2:30 PM at the headquarters of the Water Resources Ministry in Delhi, following a postponement from its original date of the 11th due to a lack of positive engagement from the Chief Ministers. Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, has maintained its focus solely on the Banakacharla agenda for discussion. The Water Resources Ministry has requested both states to submit any additional agenda items for consideration ahead of the meeting.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana refuses to discuss ‘Banakacherla' project at Revanth-Naidu meeting in New Delhi on July 16
Ahead of the crucial Chief Minister-level meeting between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held in Delhi tomorrow in the presence of the Union Jal Shakthi Minister, CR Patil, the Telangana government has refused to discuss the 'Banakacherla' project. Taking objection to Andhra Pradesh's proposal to discuss the 'Banakacherla' project in the Krishna basin as the single point agenda in the July 16 meeting, the Telangana government wrote a letter to the Centre on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) morning, just 24 hours ahead of the meeting between Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. The Telangana government clarified that there was no need to discuss the Banakacherla project, terming it irrelevant and unsanctioned. The letter pointed out that the Banakacherla project has not received any permissions from key regulatory bodies, such as the GRMB (Godavari River Management Board), CWC (Central Water Commission), and EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee). The Telangana government also highlighted that these agencies have already raised serious objections to the Banakacharla project. Citing these facts, Telangana argued that the project violates all existing laws and tribunal judgments and, therefore, should not be a subject of discussion. The Telangana government also warned that entertaining such proposals would undermine the credibility of the Central Government's regulatory bodies and also the Centre. Instead, the government said that the July 16 meeting should focus on pending and critical issues for which it had already sent a detailed agenda to the Centre. These include clearances and water allocations for projects pending on the Krishna river, recognition of Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi projects as national projects, as previously promised by the Centre. Other issues are the allocation of 80 TMC of water for the Pranahita project at Thummadihetti and the approval for the construction of a new project to utilise 200 TMC of floodwaters at Ichchampally. The Telangana government asserted that these issues are longstanding, legitimate, and vital for the equitable sharing of water resources between the two states.
New Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Eatala lied about KLIS, project never got Cabinet nod: Thummala
HYDERABAD: Agriculture Minister Thummala Nageswara Rao on Saturday dropped a political bombshell, accusing BJP MP Eatala Rajender of lying before the Justice PC Ghose Commission over the approval process for the Kaleshwaram project. He stated that the project was never approved by the state Cabinet during the BRS regime and was instead taken up through an executive order. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, Nageswara Rao called Rajender's deposition before the Kaleshwaram commission on Friday a 'bundle of lies.' 'The Cabinet never approved the construction of the Kaleshwaram project. Only the revised estimates came up for discussion, three years after construction had already begun. The decision to build Kaleshwaram was not collective. Let him show even one document that proves the Cabinet sanctioned it,' the minister asserted. Both served as ministers in the first BRS government. Nageswara Rao also challenged the BJP MP to prove his claim that a Cabinet sub-committee, comprising Harish, Nageswara Rao and Rajender, gave the green signal for the project. The minister said he would submit all relevant documents to the Ghose panel, which is probing alleged irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme. 'No sub-panel formed for Kaleshwaram proj' Nageswara Rao clarified that the sub-committee mentioned by Rajender was not constituted for the Kaleshwaram project at all. 'It was formed 15 days after the Medigadda project was sanctioned, only to study ongoing irrigation schemes like Devadula, Kanthanapally, Pranahita and Flood Flow Canal,' he explained. 'The committee met only two or three times and submitted project-specific reports. At no point did we recommend the construction of Kaleshwaram or its barrages,' Nageswara Rao added.
