Once completed, the Banakacherla project is expected to provide drinking water to 80 lakh people and irrigate 7.5 lakh acres of farmland. The Telangana government raised alarms, fearing that the project could affect its share of Godavari’s waters.
Published Feb 11, 2025 | 11:23 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 18, 2025 | 4:18 PM
Banakacharla tangle: Telangana government to take legal recourse to restrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with project
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government is firm on going ahead with the construction of the Banakacherla Reservoir in the Nandyal district. The project is expected to transform the barren lands of Rayalaseema into fertile, lush landscapes. The Telangana government raised alarms, fearing that the project could affect its share of Godavari’s waters.
The construction of the Banakacherla Reservoir is all set to become a bone of contentious between the sibling states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is actively pursuing the project, which has been his long-cherished dream — to link the Godavari River with the Penna River through the Krishna River.
As part of this ambitious initiative, he proposes to build a massive reservoir at Bollapalli in Guntur district and Banakacherla in Nandyal district, which would facilitate the diversion of Godavari waters to the Penna basin.
Naidu is eager to expedite the project, particularly since he was out of power for five years. He had initially envisioned the project during his first tenure in the reorganised state of Andhra Pradesh between 2014 and 2019.
The project is expected to transform the barren lands of the Rayalaseema region in the state into fertile, lush landscapes. Naidu recently described it as a game-changer for the region, offering a long-term solution to the persistent drought conditions that plague Rayalaseema.
However, the proposed interlinking of the Godavari-Penna basins also carries political implications. The project could bolster the TDP presence in Rayalaseema, countering any political inroads YSRCP might be contemplating.
The completion of this water transfer project is expected to drastically improve the region’s agrarian landscape, further solidifying the TDP’s position.
The Telangana government has already raised alarms over the project, fearing that diverting Godavari waters to Krishna and subsequently to Penna could affect its share of Godavari’s waters.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has formally objected, writing to the Union government, urging intervention against Andhra Pradesh’s plan.
In letters addressed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Reddy contended that the Banakacherla project violates the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganisation Act, 2014.
He requested that the Union government withhold any project approvals or financial assistance, citing the requirement for clearance from the Apex Council, the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), and the Central Water Commission before any inter-state water projects are undertaken.
Reddy pointed out that the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 1,486 TMCft of Godavari water between the two states, of which Telangana was allotted 968 TMCft.
He emphasised that the tribunal has not determined the extent of surplus water in the Godavari, making the Banakacherla project a potential threat to Telangana’s water security.
Telangana fears that diverting Godavari waters to Banakacherla will deprive the state of its rightful share, impacting both existing and planned water projects. The state has demanded a comprehensive assessment of the project’s potential repercussions on Telangana’s interests.
Despite opposition, Naidu remains committed to the project, arguing that interlinking rivers is the only viable solution to Rayalaseema’s drought woes.
The project envisions transferring Godavari waters first to the Krishna River, then to a reservoir at Bollapalli in the Guntur district, and finally to Banakacherla in the Nandyal district.
A study by WAPCOS, analysing 15 years of daily gauge data from the Godavari, concluded that the river experiences 105 flood days annually, with a flow of 1,200 cusecs at Polavaram.
Recently, Andhra Pradesh’s Principal Secretary for Irrigation, G Sai Prasad, asserted to the KRMB that the Banakacherla Reservoir is an internal matter of Andhra Pradesh and that neither Telangana nor the KRMB has jurisdiction over it.
He made this stance clear during a visit by KRMB Member Secretary DM Raypure to Amaravati.
Phase 1: Enhancing the Polavaram Right Main Canal’s capacity from 17,500 cusecs to 38,000 cusecs to facilitate the transfer of Godavari water to Krishna.
Phase 2: Increasing the capacity of the Thatipudi Lift Irrigation Scheme’canal from 1,400 cusecs to 10,000 cusecs to further support the water transfer.
Phase 3: Constructing a reservoir at Bollapalli in Guntur district with a storage capacity of 150 TMCft, where water will be lifted at a rate of 28,000 cusecs for transferring to Banakacherla through the NSP Right Bank Canal.
Phase 4: Establish lift stations at Harischandrapuram, Lingapuram, Vyyandana, Gangireddypalem, and Nakirekallu to pump water to Bollapalli Reservoir. The water will then be diverted to the Veligonda Reservoir and Banakacherla via a tunnel passing through the Nallamala forest.
The project aims to divert two TMCft of water daily for 100 days during the monsoon season. The estimated cost is ₹80,112 crore, requiring the acquisition of 40,500 acres of land, including 17,000 acres of forest land. Additionally, the lift irrigation systems will demand a power supply of 4,125 MW.
Telangana has also expressed apprehensions regarding a proposed link canal from the Nagarjuna Sagar Right Branch Canal to the Bollapalli Reservoir, fearing that Andhra Pradesh may utilise more Krishna water than its allocated share.
The Telangana government worries that this could impact irrigation for 8.1 lakh acres under the Left Branch Canal in Telangana.
The Andhra Pradesh government, however, maintains that it will use only surplus waters for transfer. It argues that surplus Krishna waters have been allowed to flow into the Bay of Bengal over the past six years, and storing them at Bollapalli would be a more efficient use of water resources.
Naidu has described Banakacherla as the “gateway to Rayalaseema,” emphasising that the project will not only benefit Rayalaseema but also the Nellore and Prakasam districts. He insists that integrating river systems is the most effective way to mitigate water scarcity in the state.
Naidu is optimistic that, with adequate funding, the project could be completed within three years. He has already submitted a report to the prime minister and discussed the project with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Given the financial magnitude of the project, Andhra Pradesh is considering a hybrid funding model, where private players would construct the infrastructure, with the state reimbursing the expenditure in a phased manner. The government also plans to cover viability gap funding (VGF), ensuring payments begin once irrigation services commence.
Once completed, the Banakacherla project is expected to provide drinking water to 80 lakh people and irrigate 7.5 lakh acres of farmland. A detailed project report (DPR) is currently in progress and is expected to be finalised within three months. Naidu is keen on calling tenders immediately after the DPR’s completion.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
