Harish Rao seeks Apex Council meet over AP’s Godavari-Banakacherla project

While the Centre was dragging its feet on granting approvals for Telangana’s irrigation projects, Andhra Pradesh was pressing ahead with its controversial plan to divert 200 TMC of Godavari water to Banakacherla.

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao on Sunday urged the State government to demand an immediate Apex Council meeting over Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Godavari-Banakacherla link project, warning that it poses a direct threat to Telangana’s rightful share of river waters.

He also called on the Congress government to convene an all-party meeting and a special session of the Assembly to discuss the way forward. Rao stated that the BRS was committed to protecting the interests of Telangana’s people, provided the Congress was willing to set aside politics and work sincerely to safeguard the State’s water rights.

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In a letter to Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, Rao pointed out that while the Centre was dragging its feet on granting approvals for Telangana’s irrigation projects, Andhra Pradesh was pressing ahead with its controversial plan to divert 200 TMC of Godavari water to Banakacherla. He described the move as a violation of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act and existing river water-sharing norms.

“Such unilateral moves could threaten Telangana’s claim over the 969 TMC allocated from the Godavari. So far, we have been able to utilise up to 600 TMC through the construction of Medigadda, Sitamma Sagar and Sammakka Sagar barrages, along with check dams and canals. We must secure the remaining water share,” he said.

Highlighting pending approvals for Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of Telangana projects, such as the additional 1 TMC draw for the Kaleshwaram project, Sammakka Sagar and the proposed BR Ambedkar project on the Wardha, he urged the State to assert its legal and constitutional rights before the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal. He warned that Andhra Pradesh proceeding without consensus would be disastrous for Telangana’s irrigation needs in the future.

While appreciating Uttam Kumar Reddy’s letter to the Centre opposing the Andhra Pradesh project, the former Minister urged the Congress government to act decisively, rise above politics and build wider consensus. He noted that as per Annexure C of the Godavari Tribunal, Telangana would be eligible for an additional 157.5 TMC of Krishna water if Andhra Pradesh diverts 80 TMC from Polavaram to the Krishna Delta.

“This allocation can be used for the SLBC, Kalwakurthy, Nettempadu, Dindi and Palamuru-Rangareddy projects, which currently lack assured water allocations. If Andhra Pradesh agrees to this arrangement, Telangana may consider the Banakacherla project,” he suggested.

Rao reminded that the K Chandrashekhar Rao government’s decade-long legal and policy efforts had succeeded in expanding the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal’s scope to include Telangana’s additional claims, particularly its demand for an extra 112.5 TMC from Krishna river.