The pre-feasibility report of the Banakacherla project is awaiting the Central Water Commission's clearance, and the DPR will be ready by the end of June.
Published Jun 04, 2025 | 1:44 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 04, 2025 | 1:44 PM
Banakacharla tangle: Telangana government to take legal recourse to restrain Andhra Pradesh from going ahead with project
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh wants to implement the project to provide water to the drought-prone Rayalaseema region. Telangana fears the project, along with Polavaram, might flood large swathes of land in Bhadrachalam and about 90 surrounding villages.
Amid escalating tension between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over the former’s construction of the Banakacherla reservoir, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has convened a joint meeting of officials from both states on 24 June in Hyderabad.
Andhra Pradesh has been expediting its Godavari-Banakacherla reservoir project as part of an ambitious plan to interlink the Godavari, Krishna, Penna, and Cauvery rivers. Telangana feels that Andhra Pradesh’s move violates the water-sharing agreements, besides threatening its interests.
To explore ways to resolve the dispute between the two states, the Central Water Commission (CWC) has called for a meeting on 24 June. The national task force for interlinking rivers will also attend the meeting to reach a consensus on the project.
The meeting assumed significance in the wake of Andhra Pradesh urging the Centre to divert water from Polavaram for linking the Godavari River with the Cauvery. Till now, the task force has been considering diverting Godavari water from Sammakka Sagar in Telangana.
Meanwhile, on 2 June, Union Jal Shakti and Finance Ministry officials, during a discussion of the project with Andhra Pradesh officials, asked for a Detailed Project Report (DPR), indicating the Centre might take a stand favourable to the state.
At present, the pre-feasibility report of the project is awaiting the Central Water Commission’s clearance, and the DPR will be ready by the end of June.
Andhra Pradesh is understood to have proposed to raise resources for the project by way of grants from the Centre, funds from the state, borrowings, and investment by contractors on an annuity project model.
Under the annuity project, part of the scheme could be taken up under a public-private partnership (PPP) mode, where a private entity finances, builds, and operates the project and, in return, receives fixed periodic payments — annuities — for a specific period.
The meeting of Jal Shakti and Finance Ministry officials took place in the backdrop of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reaching out to several central ministers recently, seeking their intervention for clearances as well as funding for the project. He argued the project was in line with the Centre’s grand plan to interlink rivers in the country.
With both states digging their heels in, the issue has sparked heated exchanges between officials, chief ministers, and ministers, raising concerns about equitable water distribution and regional harmony.
The Banakacherla reservoir, estimated to cost about ₹81,900 crore, is the cornerstone of Naidu’s plan to transform Rayalaseema into a drought-free region.
The project involves diverting Godavari waters from the Polavaram project to the Krishna River, storing it in the Bollapalli reservoir in the Palnadu district, and channelling it through the Banakacherla head regulator in the Nandyal district to the Penna River.
Naidu termed it a “game-changer,” emphasising its potential to provide irrigation and drinking water to parched lands.
“Why should Telangana object? We are using only the water that is going into the sea,” Naidu defended the project on 4 March. “I want Telugu people in both states to prosper,” he added, dismissing opposition to the project as politically motivated.
To expedite the project, Naidu proposed the establishment of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Corporation during a review meeting on 14 February. He urged officials to show visible progress before the next review. He stressed that Polavaram, which has necessary approvals and funding, should be completed by June 2027 or December 2027. at the latest.
Naidu also linked the project to broader water-management goals, announcing a special committee of ministers to enhance groundwater and afforestation efforts. After Naidu gave the instructions, the Polavaram-Banakacherla Corporation was formed.
Telangana objected, arguing that the project lacked mandatory clearances and violated the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980.
On 4 January, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed irrigation officials to lodge formal complaints with Andhra Pradesh’s chief secretary, the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
“Telangana will not compromise on its share of Godavari waters,” Revanth Reddy declared during a meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil on 3 March 2025. He said the project was not discussed in the Apex Council, where both states’ chief ministers are members. He urged the Centre to halt Andhra Pradesh’s plans until water-sharing issues are resolved.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has been equally vocal in asserting that the project should be kept on hold. On 3 June, Reddy told reporters: “We have taken all steps to prevent Andhra Pradesh from taking up the Banakacherla project. There is no question of backing down.”
Uttam Kumar Reddy accused Andhra Pradesh of pushing the project without approvals from the Central Water Commission, GRMB, or environmental agencies, calling it a “serious breach” of protocol. The minister also refuted Naidu’s claim of surplus water, arguing that any expansion of Polavaram’s capacity would undermine Telangana’s rightful share.
The dispute gained traction at a contentious GRMB meeting on 8 April, where Telangana officials, led by Irrigation Secretary Rahul Bojja, argued with Andhra Pradesh’s Engineer-in-Chief Venkateshwara Rao.
Telangana accused Andhra Pradesh of withholding project details and proceeding without proper water allocations. Andhra Pradesh replied that the DPR was still under preparation and no final steps had been taken. Telangana officials questioned the GRMB’s inaction on letters sent by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry over the past six months, and demanded transparency and accountability.
Telangana’s concerns go beyond water allocation. The state fears that the Banakacherla project, coupled with Polavaram, could exacerbate flooding risks to Bhadrachalam and about 90 surrounding villages. The state referred to the 2020 flood havoc, when Bhadrachalam was inundated with water rebounding from Polavaram.
Revanth Reddy called for a comprehensive study by IIT-Hyderabad to assess Polavaram’s impact on the Bhadrachalam temple and local infrastructure, including the central government’s heavy water plant in Manuguru and ITC’s facility in Bhadrachalam. Nothing much happened.
Meanwhile, Rayalaseema Intellectuals’ Forum Coordinator M Purushottam Reddy took exception to Uttam Kumar Reddy’s statement that he would stop the Banakacherla project.
Purushottam Reddy said, “Telangana will not benefit from Uttam Kumar Reddy’s statement that he would not let Banakacherla materialise. The minister should explain clearly what his objection is if Andhra Pradesh wants to use the Godavari water, which would otherwise be wasted. His senseless comments would also harm Telangana’s interests.
Meanwhile, BRS leader T Harish Rao criticised the Telangana government and the Centre for their handling of the issue. On 25 May, Rao accused the Congress-led Telangana government of failing to protect its water share and labelled Revanth Reddy’s silence as a “gurudakshina” (gift to the teacher) to his “political guru,” Naidu.
Rao demanded the convening of a special Assembly session and initiating measures to challenge the project in the Supreme Court. He accused Andhra Pradesh of violating the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act and the AP Reorganisation Act.
“Why is Telangana being treated like a stepchild?” he asked, pointing to the Centre’s alleged bias in supporting Andhra Pradesh.
MLC and Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha Kalvakuntla, at a dharna at Indira Park on Wednesday, 4 June, demanded an immediate halt to the Banakacherla project.
“I’m demanding Chief Minister Revanth Reddy write to the Apex Council to stop the Banakacherla Link project,” she said, adding that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu was taking away water that rightfully belongs to Telangana.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
