Uttam to Centre: Halt tenders for AP’s Godavari project that undermines Telangana’s water rights

Hyderabad: Telangana Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has demanded that the Union Government immediately reject the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project proposed by Andhra Pradesh, block submission of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), and halt any move to call or award tenders related to the scheme.

‘Threat to Telangana’s rightful share of river waters’

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil on June 13 and released to the media on Saturday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the project not only breaches the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014, but also poses a direct and unacceptable threat to Telangana’s rightful share of river waters.

Minister Uttam cited alarming developments from a meeting held on June 2, chaired by the additional secretary of the Ministry of Finance Sajjan Yadav and attended by Amit Kumar Jha, senior joint commissioner of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, where the Andhra Pradesh Government was reportedly asked to submit the DPR of the Godavari-Banakacherla project.

Expressing strong objection, Uttam Kumar Reddy wrote, “It is a matter of grave concern to us that the AP State government is asked by additional secretary, Ministry of Finance in the presence of senior joint commissioner, Ministry of Jal Shakti, to submit the DPR of Godavari-Banakacherla link which technically implies that the underlying PFR of this scheme is deemed to have been approved.”

Principles of interstate water governance

He warned that such a move would not only be procedurally flawed but also violate fundamental principles of interstate water governance.

“Usually, the DPR of any scheme by any state can be submitted to CWC only when the underlying Pre-Feasibility Report is initially approved by CWC. Does GoI asking the State government to submit the DPR infer that the PFR of this scheme is deemed to have been approved by CWC?” he asked. Asserting Telangana’s firm opposition, he added, “We strongly object to the GoI asking the AP Government to submit the DPR. We strongly object to the Godavari-Banakacherla Project.”

‘Backdoor’ efforts by AP to launch project

This is not the first time that Uttam Kumar Reddy has flagged the issue. In earlier communications dated January 22, he had written to both CR Patil and Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, drawing their attention to efforts by the Andhra Pradesh CM to push the project through the back door.

The AP CM had sent letters dated November 15 and December 31, 2024, to the Finance Ministry seeking Central assistance for the scheme and followed it with a detailed PowerPoint presentation on December 29, 2024. The presentation proposed the diversion of 200 TMC of water from the Godavari River to a new reservoir at Bollapalli in Guntur district with a storage capacity of 150 TMC. As per Andhra Pradesh’s design, the Rs 80,112 crore project is split into three segments: Godavari to Krishna River costing Rs 13,511 crore, Krishna River to Bollapalli Reservoir at Rs 28,560 crore, and Bollapalli to Banakacherla head regulator at Rs 38,041 crore.

The AP Government has sought funds for this mega scheme under Sections 46(2) and 46(3) of APRA, 2014, citing the development needs of Rayalaseema and other backward regions. However, Uttam Kumar Reddy countered this logic, stating, “These sections do not predominate Part-IX of APRA 2014, which deals with Management and Development of Water Resources and does not specify special treatment for any region.” He pointed out that all river water projects must undergo detailed scrutiny and receive clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the Apex Council.

He said, “The Government of AP has not taken any technical clearance from CWC, not taken approval of GRMB/KRMB and also not taken approval of the Apex Council for this project.”

‘968 TMC was assigned to Telangana’

Uttam Kumar Reddy reminded the Centre that under the GWDT Award, the combined allocation of 1,486 TMC was made to undivided Andhra Pradesh, out of which 968 TMC is now assigned to Telangana.

He underlined the injustice of allowing AP to pursue a new scheme when Telangana’s own projects based on its assured share remain pending with the CWC and GRMB.

“It is to be noted that a few projects of Telangana that are taken up on its assured waters of 968 TMC still need to be technically cleared. Without first clearing the projects of Telangana based on assured waters, one cannot imagine either planning or approving any projects of AP based on the perceived flood waters,” he said.

He further argued that Andhra Pradesh’s claim of diverting floodwaters is misleading and lacks legal standing. “There are no flood waters as per the GWDT award. As such, if any exist, all the riparian states are entitled to that, as per the law of the land. This project is in violation of the GWDT Award of 1980 and significantly impacts the water rights of Telangana state,” he said.

Centre’s response

In response to the January 22 letter, CR Patil replied on May 28, stating: “I have got the matter examined. In this regard, I would like to inform you that the detailed proposal for the Godavari-Banakacherla River linking scheme has not been received so far.” He assured, “Upon receipt of the detailed proposal from the state government, the Central Water Commission, under my Ministry, will examine it in accordance with the extant guidelines, existing Tribunal Awards, Inter-State Agreements, and various provisions under APRA, 2014, and appropriate action will be taken.”

Despite this assurance, Uttam Kumar Reddy said he remained deeply concerned about signals emerging from the Centre. He reiterated in the letter that the Government of India must make its position unambiguously clear and stop Andhra Pradesh from proceeding any further. “It is humbly requested to prevent the Government of Andhra Pradesh from taking up any further action on this project, including calling and awarding of tenders etc.,” he wrote. He further demanded that the Centre and all related institutions ‘desist from approving this project disregarding the APRA 2014 and other statutory provisions.’

Calling the project a direct assault on Telangana’s legal entitlements and a dangerous violation of inter-state protocol, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, “Allowing such a project would undermine the equitable and judicious management of interstate river waters and will set a precedent contrary to the statutory framework and natural justice.”

Uttam refutes Harish Rao’s allegations

Responding to former minister Harish Rao’s allegations, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the Congress Government acted swiftly and decisively the moment Andhra Pradesh moved on the Banakacherla-Godavari project.

“When the AP chief minister wrote to the Centre seeking funds, I immediately raised formal objections with both the Union Jal Shakti and Finance Ministers on January 22, 2025. Again, on June 13, I demanded the rejection of the PFR, stoppage of DPR, and halting of tenders. Telangana Congress didn’t stay silent—we initiated the legal and institutional fight from day one,” he said.

‘BRS weakened Telangana’s position on river water rights’

Terming Harish Rao’s claims baseless and misleading, Uttam said it was the BRS government that weakened Telangana’s position on river water rights. “They reduced Telangana’s Krishna allocation from 724 to 299 tmcft, while giving 512 tmcft to Andhra. That betrayal laid the foundation for today’s crisis,” he said.

He alleged that during the BRS regime, water diversions at Mucchumarri and Malyala intensified unchecked. “Even when the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Project tenders were finalised, the BRS government didn’t approach the Apex Council or act. Andhra Pradesh has been diverting 3 tmcft daily while KCR looked the other way. It was a silent deal between Jagan and KCR—BRS allowed Andhra to plunder Telangana’s water,” he charged.