Centre to convene meeting of Telugu CMs on Banakacharla project

Union Minister for Jal Shakti said several Telangana projects were still awaiting Central approvals, while Andhra Pradesh’s projects seem to be fast-tracked.

Hyderabad: Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil on Thursday assured that a meeting between the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh would be arranged soon to discuss the Godavari-Banakacharla project and to help resolve ongoing disputes related to river water sharing. Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who met the union MInister in New Delhi, voiced his concern over the Godavari-Banakacharla project sought to be implemented by AP without obtaining mandatory clearances.

Labeling it as an illegal project, he said the AP government was keen on implementing it in violation of interstate agreements. Speaking to the media after meeting Patil, Reddy said several Telangana projects were still awaiting Central approvals, while Andhra Pradesh’s projects seem to be fast-tracked.

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“We requested funding for the Musi River rejuvenation project and water allocations for Telangana’s ongoing projects, including Palamuru-Rangareddy, Sammakka Sarakka and Tummidi Hatti,” he stated.

“We detailed our objections to the Godavari-Banakacharla project to the union Minister. The project has raised concerns among the public and farmers in Telangana. The union Minister assured us that these concerns would be taken into consideration,” Reddy said, adding that he had also proposed an alternative, suggesting that water could be transferred to the Penna basin through the Inchampalli- Nagarjuna Sagar link. “We are open to discussions on the Inchampalli-Nagarjuna Sagar linkage,” he added.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who is also in New Delhi, has also announced the State’s plans to approach the Supreme Court to halt the project.