HYDERABAD: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy departed for New Delhi on Tuesday night to participate in a high-level inter-state river water sharing meeting with Andhra Pradesh. The meeting, convened by the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, is scheduled for Wednesday at 2:30 PM and will be attended by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, his irrigation minister, and senior officials. A media briefing by the Telangana leadership is expected later in the day from the national capital.
The talks come amid intensifying friction between the two Telugu states over the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed ₹81,900 crore Banakacherla cross-linking project. Telangana has raised strong objections, warning that the project could severely impact its river water entitlements and interests.
Ahead of the meeting, Telangana submitted a formal request to the Jal Shakti Ministry, urging a revision of the meeting’s agenda. The letter asked for postponement of any discussion on the Godavari-Banakacherla link until statutory clearances, inter-state consultations, and regulatory approvals are in place, and pending objections are addressed.
In contrast, the Andhra Pradesh government’s submitted agenda revolves solely around the Banakacherla project, underscoring the high stakes involved. This is Telangana’s second communication to the ministry in two days.
In its letter, Telangana’s Chief Secretary labeled the Banakacherla project “illegal,” citing the lack of approvals from statutory bodies including the Godavari and Krishna River Management Boards (GRMB and KRMB), the Central Water Commission (CWC), and the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Environment Ministry. The state pointed out that the Expert Appraisal Committee has already rejected Andhra’s pre-feasibility report, and continuing discussions at this stage would undermine the authority of national regulatory institutions.
Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized the need to focus instead on pending regional projects like the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi schemes, which await central clearance and funding.
Telangana has also submitted its own agenda for the July 16 meeting, which includes:
- Allocation of 80 TMC for the Pranahita project at Tummadihatti
- Approval for a 200 TMC floodwater utilization plan at Inchampalli
- Recognition of major lift irrigation schemes as national projects
As both states stand firm on their respective positions, the outcome of Wednesday’s meeting could shape the future of water sharing and infrastructure development across the Godavari and Krishna river basins.
