Latest news with #Godavari-Banakacharla
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Reject pre-feasibility report on river linking: T'gana CM to Centre
Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday appealed to Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil to reject the pre-feasibility report of the Godavari-Banakacharla project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government seeking to divert Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, an official statement read. The chief minister, along with state irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy met with the union minister, apart from Union secretary Debashree Mukherjee and other senior officials of the ministry at Shramshakti Bhavan in Delhi. An official statement from the chief minister's office (CMO) said Revanth Reddy briefed the union minister about how the Godavari-Banakacharla project was against the interests of Telangana state. He said the Andhra Pradesh government was taking up the project in contravention of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal-1980 (GWDT) and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. The chief minister said though the Andhra Pradesh government was claiming that the project was based on flood waters of Godavari, there was no mention of flood waters or surplus waters in the GWDT-1980. Reddy reminded that according to the 2014 AP Reorganization Act, if a new project is to be built in any state, it must first be discussed and approved by the Godavari River Management Board, Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Apex Council headed by the Union Jal Shakti minister and the chief ministers of the two states. 'Andhra Pradesh violated all these important issues and was proceeding with efforts to construct the project,' he complained and appealed to the Centre to stop all works being undertaken as part of the Godavari-Banakacharla project. Revanth Reddy also told Patil that the Telangana government was ready for talks to discuss lifting of water to Penna basin by linking Icchampally – Nagarjuna Sagar, which will be funded by Centre, instead of Polavaram – Banakacharla, if Andhra Pradesh really believes there was any flood water in river Godavari. He also explained to the union minister about the change of Polavaram designs as per the GDWT -1980 regulations and works being carried out in violation of the environmental clearances despite objections being raised. He requested the union minister that the central government should pay attention to ensuring no violation of regulations took place while constructing the Polavaram national project. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said it was not proper on the part of the Telangana government to create hurdles in his government's attempt to utilise flood waters of Godavari, which was otherwise going waste into the sea. Speaking to reporters at Amaravati, Naidu said both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were utilising Godavari waters as per their requirements. 'In fact, except Polavaram major irrigation project, all the other projects built by the two states had no permission from the Centre,' he said. He said Andhra Pradesh had never objected to the Telangana constructing projects on Godavari river like Kaleshwaram which is in violation of the tribunal award. 'There is plenty of water in Godavari and no project will affect the interests of other states. Any disputes can be resolved through dialogue across the table,' Naidu said.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana CM and Irrigation Minister seek Centre's intervention in stalling Godavari-Banakacharla project works by Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy sought the intervention of the Central Government and Jal Shakti Ministry in stalling the Godavari-Banakacharla project — proposed by Andhra Pradesh — which is detrimental to the interests of Telangana. They requested the Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil to reject the Pre Feasibility Report submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government on Godavari-Banakacharla project as it is against the interests of Telangana. The latter was committed to raise the issue in all available platforms for an amicable resolution, they told Mr. Patil informing that the State would not desist to approach the Supreme Court if the Centre did not respond positively to its request. The Chief Minister and Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy called on the Jal Shakti Minister on Thursday (June 19, 2025) and explained him about the adverse impact of the proposed project. They informed the Minister that Andhra Pradesh proposed the project in violation of the order of Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) 1980 and A.P. Reorganisation Act 2014. People of Telangana, especially farmers, were concerned about the manner in which the Union Finance and Environment Ministries behaved in respect of the Godavari-Banakacharla project, they said in the more than one hour meeting. Andhra Pradesh claimed that Banakacharla project was taken up on the flood waters of Godavari while the GWDT-1980 had ruled out scope for surplus and flood waters. The Reorganisation Act mandated that either of the two States should inform about proposed irrigation projects to the river management board, central water commission (CWC) and the Apex Council headed by the Jal Shakti Minister with Chief Ministers of the two States as members. The neighbouring State, however, set aside the norms and was going ahead with the project works. The Chief Minister and the Irrigation Minister took strong objection to claims of the neighbouring State, which ignored the prevailing norms and was claiming that the project was based on the flood waters. Andhra Pradesh was going ahead with Purushottapatnam, Venkatanagaram, Pattiseema, Chintalpudi and other lift irrigation projects under Polavaram without obtaining any clearances from the Technical Advisory Committee under the CWC. Though the Telangana government had raised several objections relating to change in the Polavaram design and the works without obtaining environmental clearances, the neighbouring State did not stop the works. Reminding that Polavaram was a national project, they urged Mr. Patil to intervene and ensure that Andhra Pradesh did not violate the set procedures. They told the Minister that if the neighbouring State was firm on flood waters in Godavari river, it could utilise the central funds for Inchampally-Nagarjunasagar link project for diversion of water to Penna basin. 'We are ready for discussion in this regard,' they said. Ensure speedy pronouncement of KWDT-II verdict Mr. Revanth Reddy and Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy requested the Union Minister to ensure that Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal – II delivers its verdict at the earliest and asserted that the government would not compromise on the interests of Telangana under any circumstances.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Revanth Reddy meets union minister CR Patil, raise concerns on Godavari-Banakacharla project
Hyderabad: In a recent visit to Delhi, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy met with Union Minister CR Patil to express his objections regarding the Godavari-Banakacharla project currently being undertaken by the Andhra Pradesh government. Accompanied by Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, the Chief Minister articulated his concerns over the potential impact of the project on local communities and the environment. Reddy's meeting with Patil aimed to address these issues and seek a resolution that balances development with ecological sustainability. The discussions are part of ongoing efforts to address contentious water resource management initiatives in the region.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Stop Banakacharla or let us meet in court: CM Revanth to Naidu
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy demanded his AP counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu to put on hold further construction of the Godavari-Banakacharla project until the water sharing dispute between the two Telugu states is resolved. Reddy appealed to Naidu to use his good offices and clout with the Centre to solve the water sharing disputes amicably. Holding former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao responsible for Andhra Pradesh taking up the Banakacharla project, Reddy also blasted Union minister G Kishan Reddy for not supporting Telangana for stalling the controversial project as a means to protect the state's interests. Addressing the press after a power point presentation on the Banakacharla project at the Secretariat, the Chief minister said that the government would lodge complaint with the central government against the project and subsequently approach courts if the Centre did not respond to their demand. Revanth Reddy urged Naidu to issue a NOC to the extent that Telangana could utilise 1000 TMC of flood water in river Godavari and 500 TMC in Krishna. He added that if AP agreed, the TG government would support the Banakacharla project. Meanwhile, Reddy strongly objected to Andhra Pradesh lifting flood waters from Godavari without any allocations. Exposing the double standards of BRS on the Banakacharla project, the Chief Minister disclosed the details of the apex council meeting held in September 2016, and said that it was KCR, who had consented to AP lifting Godavari waters. KCR had informed that 3,000 TMCs of water was going waste into the sea from river Godavari, he pointed out. During meeting with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, KCR on August 13, 2019 announced that Rayalaseema would be made 'Ratanala Seema' again. KCR and Jagan met four times at Pragathi Bhavan and decided to transfer Godavari waters to Rayalaseema, he said. Details of the meeting of the two CMs were also disclosed by the then ministers Eatala Rajender and Buggana Rajendra Prasad, Revanth explained and added that using these meeting minutes as a reference, Andhra Pradesh was constructing the Banakacharla project. The Chief Minister fired a salvo at KCR and former Irrigation minister T Harish Rao on giving assurance to AP as regards Godavari water utilization without specific allocations in the apex council meeting. 'KCR and Harish should be hanged to death for not protecting the interests of Telangana state. He also criticized KCR for not completing any project despite spending more than Rs 2 lakh crores on irrigation during the BRS rule", he said. Revanth Reddy said that he will seek appointments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union ministers during the Parliament session and brief them about the Banakacharla project and the problems being faced by Telangana state. 'We are ready to fight legally if justice is not rendered,' he said. The Chief minister wondered why Kishan Reddy had skipped such a crucial meeting and suspected that the union minister was playing a foul play to protect the union government from the threat of withdrawal of Naidu 's support in case the project was stalled.
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI cautions Andhra Pradesh govt. against taking unilateral decision on Banakacherla project
CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna says it is not correct on the part of the government to decide on the Godavari-Banakacherla project unilaterally. Andhra Pradesh would face disastrous consequences like Telangana's Kaleshwaram project if it went ahead without a proper plan, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should immediately convene an all-party meeting regarding the pending irrigation projects and new proposals, Mr. Ramakrishna said while addressing the media in Vijayawada on Sunday. Mr. Ramakrishna said the government was not focusing on completion of pending irrigation projects. Instead, it was rushing ahead with new proposals such as the ₹82,000 crore Godavari-Banakacharla project. He recalled how, under BRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao's rule, the Kaleshwaram project in Telangana was initiated with a ₹81,911 crore estimate. Already, ₹1.03 lakh crore had been spent on it and yet it remained incomplete, the CPI leader said. 'Engineers bypassed' Mr. Naidu should consult all political parties before proceeding with such a massive project. Reports suggest that Mr. Naidu was bypassing irrigation engineers and directly negotiating with a big contractor, Mr. Ramakrishna said. 'The government is risking its credibility by unnecessarily burdening itself with the Banakacharla project and focusing entirely on contract-based politics. The government should involve farmers' associations, irrigation experts, and political parties before going ahead,' he said.
