Centre hasn't taken any decision yet on Godavari-Banakacherla: Kishan
HYDERABAD: Insisting that the Centre has not taken any decision on the Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said that the Pre-Feasibility Report submitted to the Ministry of Jal Shakti is under examination.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office, Kishan confirmed that the Telangana government has raised several issues and objections to the project, which he said were being looked into.
'The Central Water Commission (CWC) will study these concerns and submit a report, based on which the Centre will make a decision. As of now, nothing has been finalised,' Kishan said.
CM should take up G-B matter with Centre & AP, advises Kishan
The BJP state president noted that water-related projects must adhere to established rules, regulations and MoUs. The Centre also seeks inputs from riparian states concerned before granting approvals.
Criticising political leaders for targeting the BJP and Centre over the issue, the Union minister urged both the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments to hold discussions. He appealed to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to write to the Centre and to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart to resolve the matter. 'Revanth must take the initiative to raise Telangana's objections with the MoJS. The BJP is committed to protecting the rights of all states and their people on water issues,' he said.
'BRS approach to health unhealthy'
Kishan accused the previous BRS government of failing to submit the required pro forma on infrastructure and facilities for medical colleges to the Union government. 'They didn't send even the basic information needed to secure support. We are now working with the Ministry of Health to find a way forward for the students,' he said.
The Union minister also appealed to Maoists to give up arms and participate in democratic processes, saying the nation would welcome them into the mainstream. He recalled that the BJP had filed a petition in the high court seeking a CBI probe into the phone-tapping case. 'The Congress government is now silent despite demanding a CBI inquiry when it was in the Opposition,' he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
India's gross direct tax collections rise 4.86% to ₹5.45 lakh crore in FY26 so far, net collections dip – Here's why
The gross direct tax collections in India for the financial year 2025-26 rose by 4.86 per cent to nearly ₹ 5.45 lakh crore as of June 19, from ₹ 5.19 lakh crore reported during the same period the previous year, according to data released by the Income Tax Department. There was a marginal dip of 1.39 per cent in the net tax collections, which stood at ₹ 4.59 crore, due to a 58 per cent increase in refunds issued, PTI reported. As of June 19, advance tax collections for the financial year 2025-26 were ₹ 1.56 lakh crore, a 3.87 per cent growth. The surge in advance tax collections was primarily due to a 5.86 per cent increase in corporate advance tax payments, while collections from non-corporate taxpayers decreased by 2.68 per cent. Even though corporate tax collections rose, the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) experienced a decrease, and the overall growth in collections was moderated by high refund outflows. The Income Tax Department recently launched the 'e-Pay Tax' feature, which is an online portal to make payments through the net banking facility of the authorised banks. The July 2024 Budget included a proposal for an extensive evaluation of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The aim was to streamline the Act for clarity, ultimately minimising disputes and litigation. On March 25, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman mentioned that the new Income Tax Bill will be discussed during the Parliament's monsoon session. The Finance Minister has previously indicated in his budget speech that under the updated tax structure, individuals with earnings up to ₹ 12 lakhs will incur no tax liability thanks to the raised rebate of ₹ 60,000. On March 18, the government urged stakeholders to provide their suggestions on the newly introduced Income Tax Bill 2025, which is currently being reviewed by the Select Committee for detailed consideration.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
River water disputes: TG govt ready for dialogue with AP
Hyderabad: The Telangana Cabinet will meet on June 24 to finalize an action plan to find an amicable solution to the snowballing inter-state row over the Bankacharla project through a dialogue with Andhra Pradesh government, while keeping its option to fight for the state's needs. During an interaction with media persons before leaving for Hyderabad from New Delhi on Friday evening, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said that he did not want to develop animosity with the neighbouring state. He said he would prefer to resolve water disputes in a friendly atmosphere. In the wake of rising river water disputes among southern states, particularly AP, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said: 'Our policy is to continue good relations with all states and find a solution to the river water disputes with each state through talks only'. Revanth Reddy took a broadside at former chief minister and BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao and T Harish Rao for politicizing the Banakacharla issue. He said that the Banakacharla issue was the result of KCR and Harish Rao agreeing to AP lifting water from Godavari at the Apex Council meeting in 2016. The official meetings held between AP and Telangana CMs in 2019 also sowed the seeds of exploitation of Godavari water by the neighbouring state. Revanth Reddy questioned the silence of the former chief minister KCR on the GOs issued by the AP government in 2016 and 2018 for Banakacharla. The CM took a swipe also at Union Minister for Coal G Kishan Reddy for not coming forward to protect the interests of Telangana from the exploitation of Godavari and Krishna water by Andhra Pradesh. 'Kishan Reddy is tutor of KTR and KTR is playing a liaison officer role for the Union Minister,' he alleged. Revanth Reddy criticized KCR for not irrigating even 50,000 acres by spending more than Rs 2 lakh crore on Kaleshwaram. The multi-crore Kaleshwaram project was left unused after the damages to the three barrages of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla. Further, the Chief Minister alleged that the Union government was indifferent towards Telangana in sanctioning the state's irrigation projects and allocating funds for them. He wondered why the Centre was proactive in releasing funds liberally to the Polavaram project, although Telangana had raised strong objections. He sought to know the Centre's main intention in approving the Banakacharla project without water allocations. 'PM Narendra Modi needs the support of AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu to run the coalition government at the Centre. The BRS wanted to raise the water disputes to survive in Telangana politics', he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Modi launches 105 projects worth over Rs 18,600 crore, in Odisha, ET Infra
Advt Advt Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched 105 development projects valued at over Rs 18,600 crores, unveiled the " Odisha Vision Document " and flagged off new trains during his visit to the also felicitated several people, including ' Lakhpati Didis ' and others. Modi , who visited Odisha for the sixth time since the BJP government was formed in the state in June 2024, launched the projects at a function at Janata Maidan projects launched by the Prime Minister included drinking water and irrigation, health infrastructure, rural roads and bridges, national highways and railway flagged off the first passenger train to Boudh district after inaugurating the Sonepur-Purunakatak railway line. Railway projects such as the third and fourth rail lines between Sarla-Sason and the fourth rail line between Jharsuguda-Jamga were also apart, Modi also flagged off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) system, promoting eco-friendly urban following people's feedback, the Prime Minister unveiled the 'Odisha Vision Document', the roadmap for the state's development goals, anchored around the centenary of Odisha's formation as a linguistic state in 2036 and India's 100 years of independence in vision aims to transform Odisha into a Dollar 500 billion economy by 2036 and a Dollar 1.5 trillion economy by Prime Minister also launched ' Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana ', an initiative to transform birthplaces of Odia icons into memorials, featuring museums, interpretation centres, statues and libraries, thereby promoting cultural tourism and preserving also felicitated some women achievers from across the state, who included some "Lakhpati Didis".'Lakhpati Didi' is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development focused on empowering women in Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The goal is to help them achieve an annual household income exceeding Rs one lakh by adopting sustainable livelihood state tops the list of creating 16.60 lakh 'Lakhpati Didis' in the country.
