Prepared to conduct a meeting with AP over Banakarcherla: Revanth Reddy

CM Revanth Reddy said Telangana is ready to hold talks with Andhra Pradesh on the Banakacherla project. He blamed the BRS for politicising water issues and welcomed CM Naidu’s call for dialogue, stressing the need for mutual cooperation

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the Telangana government was ready to hold talks with the Andhra Pradesh government on the contentious Banakacherla project, following discussions in the State Cabinet scheduled for June 23.

Speaking to media persons in New Delhi on Friday, Revanth Reddy acknowledged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s appeal for a meeting and responded positively. He said both governments could hold project-wise discussions covering technical and legal aspects. “If not in a day, discussions can go on for four days,” he remarked.

---

“Any issue can be resolved amicably through dialogue. We don’t want unnecessary disputes with Andhra Pradesh. Like Karnataka, we want cordial relations with our neighbour,” he added.

The controversy over Banakacherla arose after the Andhra Pradesh government submitted a Pre-Feasibility Report to the Central government. Revanth said had the AP government consulted Telangana beforehand, there would have been no controversy.

He alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs Chandrababu Naidu’s support, and that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was keen to harness Godavari river water ahead of elections. “Meanwhile, the BRS is politicising every water dispute with ulterior motives,” he charged.

Revanth reminded that under the AP Reorganisation Act, any changes to projects must be shared with the other state. “Such issues were discussed earlier in joint meetings,” he said.

He also pointed out that the Banakacherla project was originally conceived in 2016, and Government Orders (GOs) were issued in 2018, but the then Telangana government failed to approach the court.

Coming down heavily on the BRS’s claims regarding the Kaleshwaram project, Revanth said only 50,000 acres of new ayacut had been created. “Of the Rs. 2 lakh crore worth projects, tenders were issued for Rs. 1.27 lakh crore. Another Rs. 50,000 crore is needed to complete it,” he alleged.