The long-running Godavari water dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is set to intensify, with Telangana preparing to approach the Supreme Court against the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project, alleging legal violations and risks to its water share
Andhra Pradesh has cancelled the tender process for the Detailed Project Report of the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project following strong opposition from Telangana. The project, estimated at Rs 81,900 crore, aimed to divert surplus Godavari waters to the Krishna basin but faced objections over environmental clearance, tribunal violations, and inter-state water disputes.
Andhra Pradesh has accelerated the Polavaram-Banakacherla project to divert Godavari waters to Rayalaseema by 2027. While Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claims the project is legal, Telangana has gone silent on its earlier objections, and Karnataka has entered the dispute.
Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed Telangana's opposition to Andhra Pradesh's proposed Banakacherla project, labeling it illegal and a breach of water-sharing agreements.
For the past ten years, Telangana has had operational control over the Nagarjuna Sagar Project (NSP), including the Right Main Canal’s head regulator. Later, Andhra Pradesh wrested control of the head regulator and 13 of the 26 crest gates of the project, with the intervention of the Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Telangana has strongly opposed Andhra Pradesh's proposed Godavari–Banakacherla link project, warning that diverting 200 TMC of floodwaters from the Polavaram reservoir could violate inter-state water-sharing agreements and cause serious environmental harm.
Former Jal Shakti adviser Sriram Vedire criticized Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Godavari-Banakacherla Link project, calling it legally and scientifically baseless. He argued that planning irrigation projects on “flood waters” violates water-sharing norms and threatens the rights of upstream states like Telangana
The BRS leader also pointed out that former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had already written to the Centre, clearly explaining how surplus water in Godavari River should be shared between the Telugu States.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy urge Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil to reject Andhra Pradesh’s Banakacharla project proposal, citing violations of water-sharing agreements. They also seek urgent permissions for Telangana’s key irrigation projects
Accuses Congress, BJP of ignoring AP’s Rs 80,000-cr Godavari-Banakacherla project; says it threatens Telangana’s water security; urges immediate State action; vows a legal and public fight if the government fails to act
Hyderabad: Telangana has informed the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) that Andhra Pradesh cannot demand for installation of telemetry at certain locations of the projects with small diversions from the Godavari to Krishna River as they won’t come under claiming of additional share as per Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT-I) and Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal […]
