Andhra Pradesh prepares defence for Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project

Telangana is awaiting the Centre’s response to hold an apex council meeting on interstate water disputes. Andhra Pradesh faces legal and environmental objections to its Polavaram-Banakacharla project, even as it prepares a revised WAPCOS report using 15 years of Godavari flood data

Hyderabad: Telangana is waiting for the Centre to schedule an apex council meeting to address interstate water disputes, while the Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Department is working on a response to objections raised by Central agencies, including the Expert Appraisal Committee, which rejected the environmental clearance for the Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project.

The Central Water Commission asked for Godavari flood data to check surplus water availability. Andhra Pradesh hired WAPCOS, a public-sector consultancy, to prepare a technical report.

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WAPCOS submitted its report on July 10, stating that the project will use surplus floodwaters during the monsoon without affecting water shares of Telangana, Maharashtra, or Karnataka. The report, based on 15 years of data, says the Godavari river carries 2,842 TMC of floodwater annually, which flows into the sea.

Andhra Pradesh submitted a preliminary report on May 22, 2025, but it faced objections from the Expert Appraisal Committee over legal and environmental concerns. The State is reviewing the WAPCOS report and plans to submit a revised version to the Centre by July 14 or 15.

Telangana has been opposing the project, citing violations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award of 1980 and the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. This rejection may lead to a Supreme Court case, complicating approvals.

The project needs 7,179 hectares of forest land and passes through the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, raising concerns about biodiversity. The Centre promised an apex council meeting in early July to resolve the water-sharing issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, but no response has been received yet.