A meeting with legal experts, Standing Counsels, and the Advocate General will be held to strategise filing a petition in the Supreme Court, aiming to protect Telangana’s share in Godavari and Krishna waters
Published Apr 06, 2025 | 4:39 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 06, 2025 | 4:39 PM
Banakacharla tangle: Telangana government to take legal recourse to restrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with project
Synopsis: The Telangana Government has decided to challenge two river interlinking projects proposed by Andhra Pradesh—the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme and Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme—at the Supreme Court. Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy stated the projects violate water-sharing agreements and threaten Telangana’s irrigation and drinking water needs. Legal experts will meet to strategise for filing a petition.
The Telangana Government has decided to move the Supreme Court against two major river interlinking projects proposed by the Andhra Pradesh Government – the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme and the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS).
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy announced the decision during a high-level review meeting held at Jala Soudha on Friday, 4 April.
The Minister said both schemes violate established water-sharing agreements and pose a serious threat to Telangana’s irrigation projects and drinking water requirements. He stated that the projects were being taken up unilaterally by Andhra Pradesh without approvals from the appropriate regulatory authorities.
As part of the legal preparation, a special meeting will be convened shortly with legal experts, Standing Counsels of the Irrigation Department, and the Advocate General to chalk out the strategy to file a petition in the Supreme Court. The Minister said: “Telangana will contest the schemes in the court to safeguard its rightful share in Godavari and Krishna river waters.”
The Andhra Pradesh Government has proposed the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme, a massive ₹80,112 crore project aimed at diverting 200 TMC of water from the Godavari to Rayalaseema via the Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla regulator. The project seeks to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers.
Uttam Kumar Reddy criticised the plan, stating it violates the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA). He emphasised that Andhra Pradesh has not obtained necessary clearances from key authorities like the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), or the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). He also raised concerns over Andhra Pradesh’s use of APRA’s Sections 46(2) and 46(3) for securing Central funds, warning that these provisions cannot bypass statutory approvals and environmental regulations.
Telangana had earlier raised strong objections to the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS), which is aimed at drawing water from the Krishna river basin. As a result of continuous efforts, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) ruled in February that Andhra Pradesh must restore the RLIS site to its pre-construction stage.
The committee stated that Andhra Pradesh had violated environmental norms and must provide photographic evidence, details of restoration, and timelines before reapplying for environmental clearance. The EAC’s decision followed multiple representations by Telangana at the National Green Tribunal, Supreme Court, MoEF&CC, and other platforms.
Despite this partial victory, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh was continuing to pursue the project through other means. He said the Telangana Government would not remain a silent spectator and would raise the issue in the Supreme Court to prevent any illegal construction or diversion of water.
The Minister also raised concern about the safety of Bhadrachalam, a major town located along the Godavari river. He said the large-scale diversion of floodwaters from Polavaram to Rayalaseema could affect the natural flood pattern downstream and put the temple town at risk.
Telangana Government plans to seek Central assistance for building a protective wall around Bhadrachalam to safeguard the town from future floods. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasised proactive measures to shield the town from potential changes in the Godavari’s flow.
During a review meeting, Reddy urged swift decision-making in the Irrigation Department, highlighting the need for efficiency and prompt action on pending projects. He also announced that tenders for state-wide desilting works would be issued soon, stressing the importance of desilting for improving water storage, irrigation efficiency, and maximising resource utilisation.
Reddy criticised the previous BRS government for neglecting Telangana’s water interests, specifically regarding Andhra Pradesh’s unchecked expansion of the Pothireddypadu Head Regulator’s capacity, which increased from 44,000 to 92,600 cusecs from 2005 to 2023. He also condemned the delay in the Apex Council meeting in 2020, which allowed Andhra Pradesh to proceed with the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS).
He assured that the Congress government is committed to correcting past mistakes, defending Telangana’s water rights, and preparing a strong legal case in the Supreme Court to protect the state’s rightful share of Godavari and Krishna waters.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
