Polavaram project backwaters: Central Water Commission to conduct drainage congestion study in six Telangana streams

Decision follows inter-state meeting held recently between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, facilitated by Polavaram Project Authority, to assess backwater effects of the project on Telangana’s streams

Hyderabad: Addressing the inter-State concerns surrounding the Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP), the Central Water Commission (CWC) has been tasked with the responsibility of conducting a drainage congestion study for six major streams in the erstwhile Khammam district of Telangana.

The decision follows an inter-state meeting held recently between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, facilitated by the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), to assess the backwater effects of the project on Telangana’s streams.

---

The PPA, in a letter dated April 21, 2025, formally requested the CWC to undertake the study, citing the commission’s extensive experience and prior involvement in backwater studies for the Kinnerasani and Murreduvagu rivers.

The study aims to evaluate drainage congestion in six streams — Turubaka Vagu, Yetapaka, a local stream, Edullavagu, Peddavagu and Domalavagu — due to the backwater effects of the Polavaram reservoir, which could lead to submergence and flooding in Telangana.

In response, the CWC’s Hydrology (South) Directorate, New Delhi, issued a letter on May 23, 2025, requesting specific cross-sectional and geographical data for the six streams. The data include detailed cross-sections of the streams at specified intervals, along with latitude and longitude coordinates at their confluences with the Godavari river and, for Domalavagu, its confluence with the Kinnerasani river.

The CWC emphasised the need for jointly signed survey data from the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to ensure accuracy and transparency. To facilitate the study, the PPA has proposed that the CWC conduct the necessary ground surveys to collect the required data, given the sensitive inter-State nature of the issue. Ch Sanjeev, Assistant Director, has been appointed to coordinate with the CWC, and the PPA has committed to covering the associated survey costs.

Telangana has raised concerns about potential submergence of areas, including the temple town of Bhadrachalam and the Manuguru Heavy Water Plant, due to the Polavaram project’s backwaters. Telangana has also raised concerns about the project impact, particularly the risk of flooding and drainage congestion in its streams when the reservoir operates at full capacity. The State has cited past flood events, such as those in July 2022, which affected 99 villages and caused huge inundation around Bhadrachalam.

The Polavaram Irrigation Project, a multi-purpose national project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh, aims to irrigate over 4.36 lakh hectares, generate 960 MW of hydropower and supply drinking water to 28.5 lakh people across 611 villages. However, its backwater effects have sparked issues with Telangana, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. It was already challenged the Supreme Court.