Apex Council meeting likely on July 11 as Andhra Pradesh presses ahead with Godavari-Banakacherla link

The Centre is likely to convene an Apex Council meeting on July 11 to address the disputed Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project. Andhra Pradesh remains firm despite EAC rejection, while Telangana opposes the project over water-sharing concerns and procedural violations.

Hyderabad: The Ministry of Jal Shakti is reportedly planning to convene an Apex Council meeting on July 11, 2025, to address the contentious Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project, according to sources. The meeting, which will involve the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, aims to resolve the escalating inter-state water-sharing disputes surrounding the project.

Andhra Pradesh has confirmed its participation, while Telangana’s response is awaited, highlighting continuing tensions over the issue. The project faced a major setback on June 17, when the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) rejected the proposal, citing unresolved water-sharing issues, potential violations of the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award and the absence of a floodwater availability assessment by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

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In the minutes released on Monday, the EAC mandated that Andhra Pradesh obtain CWC approval and conduct a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) before proceeding further.

Telangana has been consistently opposing the project, with the BRS leadership spearheading its resistance. The State contends that the project threatens its rightful share of water and lacks mandatory clearances from the CWC, the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), and the Apex Council. Telangana has also argued that the project undermines the spirit of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Despite the EAC’s rejection, Andhra Pradesh remains firm on going ahead with the project and has been actively lobbying the Centre to push it through. Earlier in June, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil had assured the Telangana government that an Apex Council meeting would soon be convened to deliberate on the issue, though a date was not announced at the time.

If held, the proposed July 11 meeting would be the first Apex Council session since October 2020, when a similar meeting was held to address unresolved Krishna and Godavari river water disputes.

With both States holding firm positions and the EAC laying down strict conditions, the meeting is expected to play a crucial role in determining the future of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project.