Chandrababu Naidu stressed that upon completion, the project would provide irrigation to 12.4 lakh hectares, resolve drinking water issues along the canal’s 400 km route, raise groundwater levels, and generate 430 MW of electricity.
Published Mar 25, 2025 | 8:41 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2025 | 8:41 AM
Banakacharla tangle: Telangana government to take legal recourse to restrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with project
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh government is moving forward with the ambitious Polavaram-Banakacherla project, which aims to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. Telangana raised serious objections, alleging that the project violates its riparian rights and water allocation agreements.
Despite strong opposition from Telangana, the Andhra Pradesh government is moving forward with the ambitious Polavaram-Banakacherla project, which aims to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers.
Touted as a major initiative to drought-proof the Rayalaseema region, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu remains focused on the timely execution of the ₹81,900 crore project.
On Monday, 24 March, Naidu directed officials to explore implementing the project through an operational model to minimise financial burden.
He suggested that the electricity required to lift Godavari waters from Polavaram could be generated by setting up pumped storage and solar power plants within the project area.
“This would effectively reduce the financial strain,” he stated during a project review meeting held at the state Secretariat in Velagapudi, Amaravati.
The chief minister instructed officials to complete the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by 20 June and secure approval from the Central Water Commission (CWC) by 20 October. He emphasised the need to obtain environmental clearances and commence construction at the earliest opportunity.
According to an official release, the Polavaram-Banakacherla project proposes transferring two TMCFT (thousand million cubic feet) of water daily from Polavaram to Banakacherla in Nandyal district. Water will be conveyed via a 368.6 km open canal.
Key components include:
Besides, 54,000 acres of land will be needed, including 15,300 acres of forest area.
The project will also necessitate the rehabilitation of residents from 18 settlements in five villages, to facilitate the construction of the Bollapalli reservoir in Guntur district, which will act as an intermediary storage reservoir.
The linkage is planned to be implemented in three segments:
Segment 1:
Polavaram to Pavitra Sangamam (downstream of Prakasam Barrage)
Water will flow through the Tadipudi flood canal over 175 km
Discharge capacity: 18,000 cusecs.
Requires 1,401 acres of land.
Estimated cost: ₹13,800 crore.
Segment 2:
Vaikunthapuram to Bollapalli Reservoir
Water will be carried via an 83.40 km open canal, 12.05 km pipeline, and six lifts.
Discharge capacity: 23,000 cusecs.
Power requirement: 2,493 MW.
The Bollapalli reservoir will have a live storage capacity of 152 TMC.
Estimated cost: ₹35,750 crore.
Segment 3:
Bollapalli Reservoir to Banakacherla Regulator:
Includes a 109.80 km open canal, 5.7 km pipeline, 20.50 km main tunnel, and 6.60 km Siddhapuram twin tunnels.
Discharge capacity: 23,000 cusecs.
Estimated cost: ₹32,350 crore.
Naidu stressed that upon completion, the project would provide irrigation to 12.4 lakh hectares, resolve drinking water issues along the canal’s 400 km route, raise groundwater levels, and generate 430 MW of electricity.
The Bollapalli reservoir will also support fisheries, with officials estimating an annual economic benefit of ₹12,294 crore.
Meanwhile, Telangana raised serious objections, alleging that the project violates its riparian rights and water allocation agreements. The diversion of two TMC of water daily (totalling 243 TMC annually) from Polavaram is seen as a blatant breach of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) awards and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The Telangana government contends that there is no formal allocation of surplus waters between the two states. Without such an agreement, the project could potentially reduce Telangana’s share of crucial Godavari waters, essential for irrigation and drinking water purposes.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has already lodged his protest with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, asserting that the project lacks mandatory clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), and the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
Telangana’s Irrigation Department has described Andhra Pradesh’s move as “illegal,” stressing the point that Polavaram, being a national project, cannot be expanded without consulting co-basin states.
Apart from this, Telangana has expressed concerns over the potential inundation of critical installations like the Manuguru heavy water plant and ITC-Bhadrachalam. It has demanded comprehensive environmental and technical studies to understand the implications. Telangana has lodged formal protests with the Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary, GRMB, and the Union Government seeking intervention to halt the project.
On the other hand, Naidu has firmly defended the project, stating that Andhra Pradesh has every right to utilise surplus Godavari waters.
Recently, during a media conference, he questioned the objections, asking, “What is wrong if we use the surplus waters to benefit drought-hit areas instead of letting them flow wastefully into the sea?” He reiterated that the project involves only surplus, unallocated water, and therefore, Telangana’s concerns are baseless.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
