Banakacherla project: Supreme Court option on hold as Telangana watches AP’s next move

Telangana’s Irrigation Department has deferred immediate legal action after Andhra Pradesh abruptly cancelled tenders for the Polavaram–Banakacharla Link Project. The move, which aimed to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwaters to Rayalaseema, has temporarily eased tensions between the two States. v

Hyderabad: In the wake of Andhra Pradesh’s sudden cancellation of tenders for the contentious Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project, Telangana’s Irrigation Department is locked in deliberations on the next strategic move to protect its water rights. The department, which had been gearing up for moving to the Supreme Court, has decided to shelve immediate legal action.

The abrupt revocation of the detailed project report (DPR) tenders by Andhra Pradesh on November 7 and in a way its decision to shelve the project aimed at diverting up to 200TMC of Godavari flood waters to the Rayalaseema region, has helped de-escalate conflict between the two Telugu States.

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Telangana officials, who had protested the scheme at a recent Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) meeting, view the decision of AP to call off the tender process as a tactical retreat rather than a full withdrawal.

Sources in the irrigation department revealed that a series of closed-door meetings chaired by senior engineers and legal advisors are in progress after the tender cancellation.

“We are not dropping our legal options. The current deliberations are more focussed on the timing,” said a senior official.

With AP signalling a “temporary pause” and floating ideas to get the project included in the national river interlinking programme, the Telangana officials are watchful of AP’s next moves.

The Supreme Court option, which was under active consideration in view of the mounting criticism from the BRS as early as April this year, is now on the backburner.

Telangana had argued that the 400-km canal network, complete with massive lift irrigation components, would deprive it of vital downstream flows, in violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and rulings of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal.