AP Irrigation Minister minister defends Polavaram–Banakacherla project, says no harm to Telangana

Responding to objections raised by Telangana, Ramanaidu clarified that the project will use only the floodwaters available at Polavaram.

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu on Tuesday said the Polavaram–Banakacherla project will not affect upstream states. Responding to objections raised by Telangana, Ramanaidu clarified that the project will use only the floodwaters available at Polavaram.

Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently urged the Centre to reject Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram–Banakacherla project, alleging it violates water-sharing norms and lacks necessary permissions.

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“This project will only use floodwaters available at Polavaram. No harm will come to upstream states, and Rayalaseema will benefit from irrigation and drinking water,” Ramanaidu said at a press conference.

Reddy argued that the project breaches the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the AP Reorganisation Act, warning that Telangana may approach the Supreme Court if approvals are bypassed.

Ramanaidu maintained that only surplus Godavari floodwaters—currently draining into the sea—would be diverted to Rayalaseema. Allocated water shares of the Godavari River would remain untouched, he added.

During a presentation, the Minister highlighted that nearly 3,000 TMC of Godavari water flows wastefully into the Bay of Bengal each year. The Godavari carries up to 50 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of floodwater during peak flow.

The project will tap only this excess flow, not the regulated allocations, Ramanaidu reiterated. He also alleged that Telangana’s previous projects—such as Kaleshwaram, Sitarama Sagar, and Palamuru–Ranga Reddy—were initiated without clearances, questioning whether it is fair to oppose a project still in its early stages in Andhra Pradesh.

He warned that unplanned upstream projects could hurt downstream farmers and emphasised the legal rights of downstream catchment areas. The Minister also noted that the Andhra Pradesh government has never obstructed Telangana’s projects and recalled that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had supported several projects initiated by neighbouring states in the past.

Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy recently urged the Centre to reject Andhra Pradesh’s Polavaram–Banakacherla project, alleging it violates water-sharing norms and lacks necessary permissions.

“This project will only use floodwaters available at Polavaram. No harm will come to upstream states, and Rayalaseema will benefit from irrigation and drinking water,” Ramanaidu said at a press conference.

Reddy argued that the project breaches the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the AP Reorganisation Act, warning that Telangana may approach the Supreme Court if approvals are bypassed.

Ramanaidu maintained that only surplus Godavari floodwaters—currently draining into the sea—would be diverted to Rayalaseema. Allocated water shares of the Godavari River would remain untouched, he added.

During a presentation, the Minister highlighted that nearly 3,000 TMC of Godavari water flows wastefully into the Bay of Bengal each year. The Godavari carries up to 50 lakh cusecs (cubic feet per second) of floodwater during peak flow.

The project will tap only this excess flow, not the regulated allocations, Ramanaidu reiterated. He also alleged that Telangana’s previous projects—such as Kaleshwaram, Sitarama Sagar, and Palamuru–Ranga Reddy—were initiated without clearances, questioning whether it is fair to oppose a project still in its early stages in Andhra Pradesh.

He warned that unplanned upstream projects could hurt downstream farmers and emphasised the legal rights of downstream catchment areas. The Minister also noted that the Andhra Pradesh government has never obstructed Telangana’s projects and recalled that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had supported several projects initiated by neighbouring states in the past.