NWDA meet on Aug 22: Telangana awaits clarity from Revanth Reddy on water sharing row

The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) will meet on August 22 to discuss the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project, which includes the controversial diversion of Godavari waters. The outcome of this meeting could have significant implications for Telangana's water rights and its relations with neighboring states.

Hyderabad: The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) will hold a crucial meeting in Hyderabad on August 22 to discuss the Godavari–Cauvery river linking project, with the diversion of Godavari waters emerging as the key point of contention. All eyes are now on the Congress government in Telangana, which is yet to clarify its stand on the issue.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of Andhra Pradesh’s push for the Polavaram–Banakacherla link project, which aims to divert around 200 TMC of water, with the capacity to increase to 400 TMC. Critics allege that the plan has the tacit approval of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.

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Under the NWDA’s proposal, 148 TMC of surplus Godavari water, mainly from the Sammakka Sagar barrage, would be diverted to address water scarcity in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Telangana’s share under the plan is pegged at 44 TMC, sparking debate.

The previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government had demanded a 50 per cent share, about 74 TMC, citing the need to protect Telangana’s 966 TMC allocation under the Bachawat Tribunal. It opposed the original diversion point at Inchampalli barrage, warning of adverse impacts on downstream projects, and instead pitched for Sammakka Sagar to limit disruptions.

The BRS also sought a detailed hydrological study, the inclusion of Chhattisgarh due to its unutilised quota targeted for diversion, and minimal land acquisition for canals. It further opposed the use of Nagarjunasagar as a balancing reservoir until the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II finalises allocations.

The Congress government’s position remains unclear. The August 22 meeting is expected to indicate whether Revanth Reddy’s administration will adopt the BRS’s demand for a 50 per cent share or lean toward Andhra Pradesh’s approach, amid rising inter-state tensions over the Banakacherla project.