Godavari water diversion: Harish Rao questions State’s inaction

BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao criticized the Telangana govt for its inaction and accused the BJP government at the Centre of favoring Andhra Pradesh and undermining Telangana’s interests

Hyderabad: Accusing the Congress government in the state and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of failing to protect Telangana’s water rights, BRS leader and former Minister T Harish Rao pointed out that the moves of the AP government to divert Godavari river water through the controversial Banakacharla project would prove costly for the state.

Taking to social media platform X, he criticized the Telangana government for its inaction and accused the BJP government at the Centre of favoring Andhra Pradesh and undermining Telangana’s interests. Rao highlighted that Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Godavari-Banakacharla link project, estimated to cost Rs. 80,000 crore, was aimed to divert over 200 TMC of Godavari water without necessary approvals from the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) or the CWC.

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He said the project was sought to be implemented in violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. He pointed out that the Act mandates clearance from river management boards for any new projects on the Krishna or Godavari rivers, a requirement Andhra Pradesh has allegedly ignored.

“The Andhra Pradesh government is trampling on the provisions of the Reorganisation Act, and instead of intervening, the central government is aiding them by approving funds,” Rao said.

He criticized the Centre for granting permission to AP for securing 50% of the project’s funding through loans beyond the FRBM limits. Calling it “unjust and unethical’, Rao noted that when Telangana sought loans from the Power Finance Corporation for the Kaleshwaram project, recoveries were enforced under FRBM norms.

He lashed out at the Congress government for its failure to challenge either the Centre or Andhra Pradesh. “While united Andhra rulers planned the illegal diversion of Krishna waters through Pothireddypadu, today’s Congress leaders are enabling the plunder of Godavari waters through Banakacharla,” he charged and warned that Telangana’s interests are at stake due to the state government’s “failure to act.”

The former minister also called on Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to raise the issue of Andhra Pradesh’s alleged water diversion at the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting and demand action to halt the “illegal” Banakacharla project. “With two union Ministers, eight BJP MPs, and eight Congress MPs from Telangana, what is stopping the state from fighting for its rights?” Rao questioned while accusing the Congress government of allowing Telangana to suffer due to its “lethargy.”