Banakacharla project row: MLC Bhoomireddy hits out at Telangana ministers, defends Lokesh

Amaravati: TDP MLC Bhoomireddy Ramgopal Reddy accused Telangana Congress ministers of deliberately opposing the Polavaram-Banakacharla lift irrigation project. He criticised ministers Bhatti Vikramarka, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Ponnam Prabhakar and others for making baseless remarks that Minister Nara Lokesh ‘lacked understanding’.

‘Unaware of geographical facts’

Speaking at a media meet in Pulivendula, Kadapa district, on Monday, he condemned threats made against Lokesh and questioned the logic of the opposition, stating that the ministers are aware of the geographical facts but are inciting Telangana sentiments for political gain.

He explained that every year nearly 3,000 TMC of Godavari water flows wastefully into the sea, and the aim of the Polavaram lift irrigation scheme is to utilise 200–300 TMC of the water for Rayalaseema through Banakacharla project.

He pointed out that the Telangana government had already built the Kaleshwaram project and used over 250 TMC from the Godavari, which could potentially harm AP during drought years; yet, AP did not oppose it. Now, when Andhra wants to use wasted water, Telangana Congress leaders are objecting.

‘Banakacharla project poses no threat to Telangana’

Ramgopal Reddy clarified that rivers like Sabari and Sileru merge into the Godavari after Bhadrachalam, and hence the project poses no threat to Telangana.

He alleged that the opposition from Congress ministers is intended to benefit YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy and stir regional tensions in Andhra Pradesh. He reiterated Nara Lokesh’s stand that both Telugu States are like two eyes and that no citizen would be harmed. He questioned how KTR could claim that, Lokesh lacked understanding of the project. While the two had spoken about using only the water that would otherwise reach the sea.

AP, Telangana joint talks

He mentioned that 10 days ago, the irrigation departments of AP and Telangana held talks on water-sharing, during which AP included Banakacharla in its agenda.

However, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy later denied that Banakacharla was discussed, while Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed it was opposed in Delhi, raising questions about who is telling the truth. Despite Telangana using Krishna waters via Palamuru and Bhima projects without Central Water Commission (CWC) permissions, AP chose not to oppose them in the spirit of unity. But now, he condemned the ‘malicious’ intent of Telangana ministers to block development for Rayalaseema and warned that abusive remarks against Lokesh would not be tolerated.