Andhra Pradesh cancels tender process for Polavaram-Banakacherla project DPR

Andhra Pradesh has cancelled the tender process for the Detailed Project Report of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project following strong opposition from Telangana. The project, estimated at Rs 81,900 crore, aimed to divert surplus Godavari waters to the Krishna basin but faced objections over environmental clearance, tribunal violations, and inter-state water disputes.

Hyderabad: Amid fierce backlash from Telangana, spearheaded by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), Andhra Pradesh has abruptly cancelled the tender process for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the contentious Polavaram-Banakacherla link project (PBLP), which was aimed at diverting Godavari waters to Krishna basin and beyond.

Irrigation officials confirmed on Friday that AP had withdrawn the tender notice issued on October 11 after reviewing technical and financial parameters. The tender, which invited consultancy services for preparing the DPR, was expected to pave the way for designing the Banakacharla link project aimed at transferring over 200 TMC of what was claimed as unutilised flood flows in Godavari to Krishna basin enhancing irrigation coverage in Rayalaseema.

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Sources indicated that the decision to cancel stemmed from the need to re-evaluate the project scope as its integration with the main Polavaram dam system was strongly opposed by Telangana.

The government of AP reportedly intends to adopt a more comprehensive approach to address the issues raised by other riparian States and to optimise interlinkages between the Banakacharla existing canal networks, officials claimed.

A revised notification is likely to be issued after the updated feasibility study is completed. The expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Central Water Commission had denied environmental clearance to the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project, returning the proposal to Andhra Pradesh for revision.

The EAC cited objections that the project potentially violates the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award and raises unresolved submergence concerns for neighbouring States, specifically Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Additionally, the panel advised Andhra Pradesh to first obtain a complete study on Godavari surplus waters from the CWC before reapplying.

The proposed project involves a multi-stage infrastructure network spanning about 416 km, including canal upgradation to increase the capacity of the Polavaram Right Main Canal from 17,500 cusecs to 38,000 cusecs, and the Thatipudi Lift Canal from 1,400 cusecs to 10,000 cusecs besides construction of a new reservoir at Bollapalli for water storage.

The project is estimated to cost Rs.81,900 crore, but has sparked a major inter-state dispute, primarily with Telangana. Telangana contended that it would violate the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, and ignore the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal’s allocation of 968 TMC to Telangana (out of 1,486 TMC total), potentially depleting its reservoirs and irrigation schemes.