Telangana leaders argue that the Centre’s decision vindicates their opposition to the project, which they claim threatens Telangana’s legitimate water rights and violates inter-state agreements.
Published Jul 01, 2025 | 1:52 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 01, 2025 | 1:52 PM
Banakacharla project
Synopsis: The Centre has denied Andhra Pradesh clearance to begin an environmental assessment for the Godavari–Banakacherla project, halting progress. Telangana’s Congress government called it a major win, arguing the project threatens its water rights and bypasses inter-state rules. With Andhra Pradesh insisting it uses surplus Godavari water, the dispute remains unresolved, escalating political and legal tensions.
The Centre’s decision to deny clearance for the Terms of Reference (ToR) sought by the Andhra Pradesh government for conducting environment impact assessment (EIA) and environment management plan (EAP) for its ambitious Godavari–Banakacharla (G-B) Link Project has come as a significant political victory for the Congress-led Telangana government.
Obtaining the ToR is a critical prerequisite for Andhra Pradesh to begin the process for securing environmental clearances for the project, which proposes to divert Godavari waters toward the Krishna and Penna basins—particularly to benefit the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.
Telangana leaders argue that the Centre’s decision vindicates their opposition to the project, which they claim threatens Telangana’s legitimate water rights and violates inter-state agreements.
The move is also being attributed by Congress leaders to their sustained political and administrative pressure on the Union government, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF).
Claiming the victory, Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy wrote on X: “The rejection of the plea by AP government for ToR for environmental clearance is a victory for Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and my efforts. We have written several letters to the centre and met union ministers personally. Considering our representations, the centre held back the clearance.”
ఫలించిన తెలంగాణ కాంగ్రెస్ ప్రభుత్వ కృషి. 💥💥✊🏻✊🏻
పోలవరం – బనకచర్ల ప్రాజెక్టుకు పర్యావరణ అనుమతులు ఇవ్వలేమని పర్యావరణ మంత్రిత్వ శాఖ ఈఏసీ కమిటీ తేల్చి చెప్పింది. ఏపీ ప్రభుత్వ అనుమతుల ప్రతిపాదనలను నిర్ధ్వందంగా తిరస్కరించింది. గత జనవరి నుంచి ఇప్పటి వరకు అనేక మార్లు తెలంగాణ సీఎం… pic.twitter.com/evCJEu8DA4
— Uttam Kumar Reddy (@UttamINC) June 30, 2025
The project, considered a flagship initiative of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, has been touted by him as a “game-changer” for Rayalaseema.
Designed to provide irrigation to 7.5 lakh acres and drinking water to nearly 80 lakh people, it aims to draw around 200 TMCFT (thousand million cubic feet) of Godavari water from Polavaram, channel it to a reservoir at Bollapalli in Guntur district, and finally to Banakacherla in Nandyal district.
The estimated cost of the project is ₹80,112 crore, divided into three segments: ₹13,511 crore for the Godavari to Krishna link, ₹28,560 crore for Krishna to Bollapalli, and ₹38,041 crore for the final leg to Banakacherla.
However, the MoEF’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), on 17 June 2025, rejected the request for ToR, citing concerns over a potential violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award of 1980, but it was announced by the ministry on 30 June, 2025.
MoEF’s Expert Appraisal Committee. (Supplied)
The Tribunal allocated 968 TMCFT of Godavari water to Telangana, without accounting for surplus or floodwater usage—precisely what Andhra Pradesh intends to tap through this project.
The EAC emphasized the need for a thorough assessment of floodwater availability by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and flagged the absence of mandatory inter-state approvals.
The EAC note read: “Accordingly, the Committee recommended that the PP should comprehensively assess the availability of flood waters in consultation with the Central Water Commission (CWC). Furthermore, the EAC noted hat several representations have been received via email, alleging that the proposed scheme may be in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980. In view of this, it is imperative that the PP should approach Central Water Commission (CWC) for examining the inter-state issues and granting necessary clearance/permission before submitting the proposal for framing the TOR for conducting EIA study. The EAC decided to return the proposal on the above lines.”
The Telangana government, under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, has mounted strong opposition to the G-B Link Project. It has contended that Andhra Pradesh failed to obtain the necessary clearances from the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the Apex Council, as stipulated under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014.
Telangana has filed complaints with both the Union Jal Shakti Ministry and the Central Water Commission and has declared its intention to approach the Supreme Court if necessary.
Without the ToR, Andhra Pradesh is now unable to proceed with the mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, effectively halting the project for now. Telangana leaders have welcomed the setback as a validation of their concerns.
Uttam Kumar Reddy, in his communications to the Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in the past, had urged him to reject the ToR application outright.
He stated that Andhra Pradesh’s approach undermines legal and statutory norms by bypassing provisions under Sections 85(8)(d) and 84(3) of the APRA, which mandate technical and inter-state approvals before launching new river projects. “Allowing such a project would undermine the equitable and judicious management of inter-state river waters and set a precedent contrary to statutory frameworks and natural justice,” Reddy asserted.
He also pointed out that Telangana has multiple pending projects based on its allocated 968 TMCFT of Godavari water, which should receive priority consideration before any proposal from Andhra Pradesh to utilize unallocated or surplus waters.
One of the most contentious aspects of the project is it’s dependence on the Polavaram project, which is already embroiled in legal battles over submergence issues in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Further complicating matters, Telangana alleged that Andhra Pradesh made extensive design changes to the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP) without securing fresh environmental clearance, violating both the original MoEF approvals and inter-state agreements.
According to Reddy, the original clearance was granted by the MoEF under Letter No. J-12011/74/2005-IA-1 dated 25 October 2005. However, the Andhra Pradesh government allegedly deviated from the sanctioned design, prompting the MoEF to issue a “Stop Work Order” on 8 February 2011.
Despite this, Andhra Pradesh reportedly continued with unauthorised expansions in both the Godavari and Krishna basins.
In response, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, in a letter dated 28 May 2025, assured the Telangana government that the CWC would evaluate the Godavari–Banakacherla Link proposal strictly within the framework of existing tribunal awards, inter-state agreements, and APRA provisions.
Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, insists that the project would only use unutilised floodwaters of the Godavari that currently drain into the Bay of Bengal. Chief Minister Naidu has urged his ministers to hold consultations with Telangana to address the concerns and resolve the matter amicably. However, with both states sticking to their respective positions, a resolution remains elusive.
While the Union government has offered to mediate through a tripartite meeting involving the Chief Ministers of both states, the prospects for reconciliation appear uncertain, given the high political stakes and entrenched differences over water sharing.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
