Telangana flags unauthorised expansions on Polavaram; joint panel proposed for outfall regulators

Telangana officials warned of an impending inter-state conflict over AP’s unauthorised Polavaram expansions, citing risks to downstream water flows. A joint committee was proposed to inspect outfall regulators and mitigate submergence risks

Hyderabad: Sounding a serious warning about an impending inter-state conflict over sharing of Godavari waters in the coming days, Telangana officials voiced concerns over the “unauthorised” expansion of key Polavaram project components by Andhra Pradesh at a meeting of the Polavaram Project Authority at Jal Soudha here on Friday.

The meeting, chaired by PPA CEO Atul Jain, also saw proposals for a joint committee to address submergence threats to vital regulators, a move welcomed by Telangana Principal Secretary (Irrigation) Rahul Bojja, who led the charge against what he described as Andhra Pradesh’s “fait accompli” approach.

---

“The unauthorised expansions of the Twin Tunnels—from 20,000 cusecs to 40,000 cusecs—and the Right Main Canal (RMC) from 10,000 cusecs to 17,548 cusecs—were executed without approvals from competent authorities,” Bojja stated.

He cautioned that such unilateral actions could invite retaliation from upstream states, potentially halting downstream water flows entirely. “If every state goes like this, what would be the consequence? If the same is done by upstream states, there will not be any water left downstream,” Bojja emphasized, noting Telangana’s repeated objections via letters and platforms, which he said have proven ineffective.

Bojja further urged the PPA to move beyond “writing letters” to enforce “action and a mechanism to curtail such activities,” highlighting that prior correspondences and PPA meeting minutes have failed to halt the works. The concerns extend to the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), where Telangana alleged a fundamental shift in the project’s scope—sourcing from Polavaram—without alignment to Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) approvals by the Government of India.

Under Section 90(4) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014, Bojja reminded attendees, that the PPA remains the sole authorized body for executions and clearances, underscoring the procedural breaches. He also pointed out environmental and rehabilitation disparities. Amid an extended stay order on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) clearance for the project, discussions touched on joint surveys for land acquisition and rehabilitation in Chhattisgarh and Odisha up to the full reservoir level (FRL) of 45.72 meters.

He pointed out that while Chhattisgarh—even if it would be untouched by submergence in Phase-I at 41.15 meters—has concluded its surveys, but no such proposals were made for Telangana’s affected areas. Bojja invoked a September 2022 Supreme Court order mandating protection works in Telangana, which remain “unaddressed.”

He flagged the pending survey of six major streams for drainage congestion studies, followed by demarcation of eight streams—including Kinnerasani and Murreduvagu. Phase-I filling, he warned, would submerge the Etapaka outfall regulator at sill level of 40.250 meters, which drains through Bhadrachalam town, necessitating “continuous pumping” into the main Godavari River—a logistical and ecological nightmare.

In response to these submergence risks, CEO Jain proposed forming a joint committee comprising officials from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to inspect the outfall regulators and submit a report. This would guide decisions on their operational viability during reservoir filling.

“This will enable us to take a decision on the operation of all these regulators,” Jain opined, a suggestion promptly accepted by Bojja, signalling technical collaboration to resolve escalating disputes. The meeting was attended virtually by Central Water Commission (CWC) and Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) officials.