The issue was discussed at the sixth consultative meeting of the National Water Development Agency on the Godavari-Cauvery link.
Published Aug 26, 2025 | 11:51 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 26, 2025 | 11:51 AM
Godavari flood water at the Polavaram spillway. (Screengrab/ MEIL group/ X)
Synopsis: Telangana is proposing the Inchampalli-Godavari link as an alternative to Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram-Banakacherla project, arguing that this route is fair, legal, and protects its share of Godavari waters. Experts say Inchampalli could be a middle path, as it can draw unutilised waters from Chhattisgarh.
Telangana is proposing the Inchampalli-Godavari link as an alternative to Andhra Pradesh’s controversial Polavaram-Banakacherla project. The state argues that this route is fair, legal, and protects its share of Godavari waters.
The issue was discussed at the sixth consultative meeting of the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) on the Godavari-Cauvery link, held in Hyderabad recently.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Odisha. The aim was to build consensus on the Union government’s Godavari-Cauvery interlinking plan.
The BRS, however, opposes the project, fearing it would permanently disable the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). The party stated in a recent release that the Congress government led by Chief Minister A Revanth has indirectly approved the Inchampalli project, which would render Medigadda obsolete.
“If the TDP in Andhra Pradesh takes away Godavari waters in the name of Banakacherla and the BJP-led Centre transfers Godavari water under the pretext of the Godavari-Cauvery link from Inchampalli, Telangana is going to suffer, as there would be no water left. This is what is going to happen in the future,” the party said.
The BRS further argued that Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, where the BJP is in power, had objected to the Inchampalli-Godavari link, but the Congress-led Telangana government agreed to Narendra Modi’s proposal.
“Is it because it was unable to oppose the ‘big brother’s’ push for the Godavari-Cauvery link?” the party asked. It asserted that Telangana’s share of Godavari waters is 968 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), but that the state is entitled to another 460 TMC.
“The Revanth government has relinquished Telangana’s right to these waters. Instead, it is begging for a mere 74 TMC share,” the BRS said.
The Godavari-Cauvery link is part of India’s National Perspective Plan for river interlinking. It aims to divert surplus Godavari waters to the drought-prone south to meet irrigation, drinking, and flood-control needs.
The NWDA first proposed the Godavari-Cauvery link in the 1980s. The design is to transfer 247 TMC of water from the Godavari to the Cauvery via the Krishna and Pennar basins. This could irrigate lakhs of acres, generate hydropower, and reduce floods.
The Inchampalli diversion point in Telangana has been part of earlier plans as well. Proposals such as the Godavari (Inchampalli)-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) link had identified Inchampalli as the best route, citing reduced submergence and ensuring fair distribution.
Telangana’s push for Inchampalli is tied to concerns about Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram-Banakacherla link. Telangana said that the project violated the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980, and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014.
Under these agreements, Telangana gets 968 TMC of assured Godavari waters, while Andhra Pradesh gets 500 TMC. Telangana argues that Andhra Pradesh’s plan to divert 200 TMC of so-called “floodwaters” from Polavaram to Banakacherla infringes on its rights.
Telangana experts back this view. They say “floodwaters” is not a recognised category in project planning by the Central Water Commission (CWC), and states cannot use such averages or surpluses without affecting 75 percent dependability allocations.
Andhra Pradesh’s Godavari-Banakacherla link is a massive project, estimated to cost ₹80,112 crore. It includes widening the Polavaram Right Main Canal to 38,000 cusecs, setting up lift irrigation schemes, and tunnelling through the Nallamala forests. The goal is to supply water to drought-hit Rayalaseema districts such as Kadapa and Kurnool.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders see it as a lifeline, arguing it will use up to 3,000 TMC of Godavari water that would otherwise flow unused into the sea.
However, critics warn of risks, including salinity intrusion in deltas, habitat loss, and displacement of tribal communities. The project will require 40,500 acres, including forest land, and over 4,000 megawatt (MW) of pumping power.
Telangana gained ground when the Union Environment Ministry’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) rejected Andhra Pradesh’s preliminary report on 1 July 2024. The EAC cited unresolved submergence issues in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, possible violations of the GWDT, and a lack of CWC clearance on floodwater. AP was asked to revise its plan after consultations with all states.
This was a significant win for Telangana, for which Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy had lobbied hard.
At the NWDA meeting, Telangana presented its case for Inchampalli. The state said it supported diversion from Inchampalli, but with conditions. Ongoing projects — Devadula (38 TMC), Sitarama (67 TMC), and Sammakka barrage (47 TMC) — on the Godavari should not be affected.
To avoid submergence, Telangana proposed an alternate alignment for the Inchampalli-Godavari link. Instead of Inchampalli-Nagarjunasagar, it suggested using the Nagarjunasagar Tail Pond, which has a capacity of 7 TMC, as the integration point. A joint CWC survey was sought.
Telangana also proposed two new reservoirs in the Krishna basin to store 200 TMC of Godavari floodwaters for use within the state.
Telangana also opposed four Andhra Pradesh intra-link projects tied to Polavaram’s dead storage: The Chintalapudi Lift Irrigation Scheme, Babu Jagjeevan Ram Uttarandhra Sujala Sravanthi, YSR Palnadu Drought Mitigation Project, and Gundrevula Reservoir. Telangana said these were meant to divert waters to Andhra Pradesh’s dry regions while harming Telangana’s interests in the Krishna basin.
Raising objections to the proposed Polavaram-Banakacherla project, Telangana requested a review of the detailed project report (DPR) that the Union government would prepare for the Inchampalli-Godavari link. Telangana Irrigation Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja said: “It is only after we study the DPR that we will consider giving our consent.”
Telangana asked the Union government to safeguard its 968 TMC assured share of Godavari water, seek clearances for pending projects on the river, and secure the right to use 74 TMC — half of its interlinking share — anywhere in the state.
“We support the project in principle, but our water security must come first,” an official source said, stressing that there should be no impact on Samakkasagar, Sri Rama Lift, and other schemes.
The NWDA meeting ended without any breakthrough but highlighted the sharp divide between Andhra Pradesh’s push for drought relief and Telangana’s fight for water rights.
Experts say Inchampalli could be a middle path, as it can draw unutilised waters from Chhattisgarh. The Union government has also offered 90 percent funding. However, Chhattisgarh’s concerns and ongoing tribunal disputes make the road ahead tough.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
