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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Polavaram-Banakacherla project won't affect interests of upstream states, including Telangana: Min Nimmala
VIJAYAWADA: Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu on Tuesday dismissed allegations from Telangana leaders regarding the Polavaram-Banakacherla project, asserting that it will not harm upstream States. Addressing a press conference, he clarified that the project will utilise only surplus Godavari floodwater, ensuring no impact on allocated water share for upstream States like Telangana. Making a PowerPoint presentation at the State Secretariat, he highlighted that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water flows unused into the Bay of Bengal annually, with peak flows reaching 50 lakh cusecs. The Polavaram-Banakacherla project aims to divert this excess floodwater to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. 'We are only planning to use water that would otherwise go waste into the sea,' he asserted, reiterating that the project poses no threat to upstream States. Responding to objections raised by Telangana Water Resources Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who recently urged the Centre to reject the project for allegedly violating the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, and the AP Reorganisation Act, he called for introspection.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Godavari-Banakacharla project: Uttam calls for all-party MPs' meet today; BJP, BRS members may skip
Hyderabad: Amid growing political slugfest between the government and the opposition parties, state Irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy called an all-party MPs meeting on Godavari Banakacharla project at Secretariat on Wednesday. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy would attend the meeting as chief guest. Though the minister claimed he invited union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay along with BJP MPs to the meeting, sources said that the ruling national party's Lok Sabha members and also the union ministers are likely to skip the meeting. The three Rajya Sabha MPs from BRS will also be absent. Uttam said that the state government prepared an action plan to exert pressure on the union government against the Banakacharla project and stall the works. The all party meeting is being convened to seek the other party views and opinions to intensify the fight against Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had already raised objections on behalf of the Telangana State Government on this project when he met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi in June. The Union Minister responded and clarified that his ministry has not yet received DPR related to the Godavari-Banakacharla Link Project and assured that he will review taking into account the existing guidelines in water allocation, tribunal judgments, inter-state agreements and the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act. He also cited the demand that the Central Water Commission should withhold the approvals related to this project.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Godavari water war brews: Telangana calls all-party meet today; all you need to know
HYDERABAD: With the Andhra Pradesh govt pushing ahead with its Godavari-Banakacharla link scheme, the Telangana govt has called for an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss its potential impact on the state. Chief minister A Revanth Reddy will chair the meeting, while irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy will make a detailed presentation on the implications of the project for Telangana. Uttam has invited all Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members from the state, including Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, for the meeting. The meeting aims to build a united front against the AP govt's reported move to divert 200 tmcft of water from the Godavari river. The Telangana govt believes that the AP scheme violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award and the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. Scheme backdoor bid to revise GWDT allocations: Uttam Uttam has already written to Union jal shakti minister CR Patil objecting to the scheme, which is currently being pursued by the AP govt for clearances from the expert appraisal committee, the ministry of jal shakti, and the ministry of environment and forests. As per the GWDT award, undivided AP was allocated 1,486 tmcft of Godavari waters-of which 968 tmcft now belongs to Telangana. The Telangana govt argues that it would face severe injustice if Andhra proceeds with the scheme while Telangana's own irrigation projects remain pending clearance before the Central Water Commission and the Godavari River Management Board. Telangana has formally raised objections with the CWC, GRMB, ministry of Jal Shakti, and the Polavaram Project Authority, asserting that AP cannot unilaterally alter the river's flow regime. "This scheme is a backdoor attempt to revise GWDT allocations under the pretext of 'floodwaters', which is not tenable. AP has repeatedly violated tribunal awards in both Krishna and Godavari basins," the irrigation minister alleged.
Hans India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Harish Rao seeks apex council meet on APRA violations
Hyderabad: Complimenting Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy for his strong letter to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry objecting to Andhra Pradesh's Banakacherla Project, senior BRS leader Harish Rao has suggested that the Irrigation Minister press the Centre to convene an Apex Council meeting to discuss violations of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014. The BRS leader addressed a letter to the Irrigation Minister on Sunday, requesting him to convene an all party meeting or a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue and formulate a policy decision. Mr Rao stated that, as per the Godavari Tribunal Award, engineers during the undivided Andhra Pradesh period had asserted the state should receive 1,480 TMC of water, with Telangana projects being allocated 969 TMCs through various Government Orders. However, due to a lack of project construction and several projects still being under construction, Telangana's utilisation had never even reached 200 TMCs. He noted that the previous BRS government stabilised 19 lakh acres and also provided water to one lakh acres by undertaking barrages such as Sadarmat, Sundila, Annaram, Medigadda, Sammakkasagar, and Sitarammasagar in the Godavari basin. Mr Rao warned that with the Andhra Pradesh government attempting to draw 200 TMCs from the Godavari, Telangana stands to lose out. He recalled that even before the formation of the Godavari Tribunal, the AP government aimed to complete the Banakacherla project to divert 200 TMCs. He urged the Minister to hold discussions with engineers and make a favourable decision for Telangana.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Reject PFR of Banakacharla project: Irrigation Minister Uttam to Centre
HYDERABAD: Strongly objecting to the Andhra Pradesh government's proposed Banakacharla project, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has urged the Central government to reject the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the project that is presently under review by Central Water Commission (CWC). In a letter on Saturday, he asked Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil to initiate necessary action to prevent AP from submitting the DPR of the project to CWC. Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that during a meeting held on June 2, chaired by Sajjan Yadav, additional secretary in the Ministry of Finance, state government officials sought an update on the approval status of the PFR by the CWC. In response, the senior joint commissioner in the Ministry of Jal Shakti informed them that the report was under active consideration of the CWC. Sajjan Yadav also instructed the AP government to submit the DPR by the end of the month 'Usually, only after the CWC approves the PFR, the DPR of a project is submitted by any state government. Does the Central government asking AP to submit the DPR mean that the PFR of Banakacharla is deemed to have been approved by the Commission? We strongly object to the Union government's attitude,' said the irrigation minister.
