The issue, rooted in decades-long disputes over river water sharing, has reignited inter-state tensions and exposed political fault lines, with Reddy blaming the previous BRS regime for undermining Telangana’s interests.
Published Jun 21, 2025 | 2:32 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 21, 2025 | 2:32 PM
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
Synopsis: Ahead of the cabinet meeting, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has strongly opposed Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Godavari-Banakacharla project, insisting it cannot move forward without Telangana’s consent under the Reorganisation Act. While extending an invitation to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu for talks, Reddy blamed the previous BRS government for weakening Telangana’s position and accused the BJP, BRS, and TDP of political collusion.
The Telangana Cabinet, scheduled to meet on 23 June, is set to finalize the state’s stance on the contentious Godavari-Banakacharla (GB) link project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government in the Penna basin.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has signalled a firm approach to protect Telangana’s water rights while expressing openness to dialogue with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The issue, rooted in decades-long disputes over river water sharing, has reignited inter-state tensions and exposed political fault lines, with Reddy blaming the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) regime for undermining Telangana’s interests.
Speaking to media persons in Delhi informally on Friday, 20 June, Reddy struck a balanced tone, stating, “I don’t seek confrontation with any neighbouring state, but I’m not prepared to let Telangana’s rightful share be compromised.”
He extended an olive branch to Naidu, offering to host him in Hyderabad to discuss the project and clarify doubts. “We want to ensure no harm is done to Telangana’s interests,” Reddy asserted, underscoring the need for Andhra Pradesh to seek Telangana’s consent for the Banakacharla project, as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh State Reorganization Act, 2014.
He said that as no other Godavari project has clearances, Andhra Pradesh has to get consent from Telangana if it wants to go ahead with Banakacharla project as it aims to transfer Godavari waters from Polavaram to the Penna basin. “This is what the bifurcation Act clearly says,” he pointed out, accusing Andhra Pradesh of bypassing the rules and procedures by not raising the project at the Apex Council, a body comprising the Centre and both states.
Reddy traced the dispute to long-standing disagreements over Krishna and Godavari water distribution, blaming the erstwhile BRS government led by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) and former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao.
He accused the BRS of compromising Telangana’s interests by agreeing to a modest allocation of 299 tmcft of Krishna water in a 2016 letter to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB). Reddy also slammed KCR for stating at an Apex Council meeting that year that Telangana had no objection for the transfer of Godavari water to the Penna basin, a stance that Reddy claims paved the way for the Banakacharla proposal.
“It was the BRS regime that hurt Telangana’s interests,” Reddy said, claiming that that it was only in July 2023 that the BRS demanded a 50 percent share of the 811 tmcft Krishna water allocation, which equals to 405.5 tmcft.
The Congress government, Reddy said, is pushing for an even higher share of 500 tmcft, reflecting a more aggressive stance to secure Telangana’s water needs. He accused Andhra Pradesh of failing to discuss the Banakacharla project’s pre-feasibility report at the Apex Council, before submitting it to the centre.
The dispute has taken on a political hue, with Reddy targeting Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, accusing him of acting as a “liaison officer” between the BRS and the Centre.
Reddy alleged a quid pro quo arrangement, claiming the BRS supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to secure eight Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, aiming to weaken Congress’s electoral prospects. “Kishan Reddy is protecting BRS interests,” he said, suggesting a broader political alignment involving the BJP, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and BRS.
Reddy further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is backing Naidu to maintain TDP’s support at the Centre, while Naidu seeks to bolster his position ahead of Andhra Pradesh’s next elections.
Meanwhile, the BRS, Reddy claimed, is leveraging the water dispute to stage a political comeback in Telangana. “Modi wants Naidu’s support, Naidu wants to win again, and BRS wants to regain power,” he said, framing the Banakacharla issue as a convergence of political interests.
Reddy described the unique position of Telangana in the river water issues. While Andhra Pradesh is a lower riparian state for the Godavari and Krishna, Maharashtra and Karnataka are upper riparian states for Telangana. “I’m not for quarrels with any neighbours,” he reiterated, but stressed that Telangana would not remain a passive bystander if its water rights are threatened.
Telangana fears that the Godavari-Banakacharla project, if implemented without Telangana’s consent, could divert significant water volumes, potentially impacting irrigation and drinking water needs in Telangana’s Godavari basin districts.
Farmers and local leaders have voiced concerns, urging the state government to adopt a hardline stance. Reddy’s invitation to Naidu for talks is seen as a diplomatic move to avoid escalation, but Telangana has made it clear that it was even prepared to pursue legal and administrative recourse if negotiations fail.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
