Godavari-Banakacheral project: All you need to know about all-party MPs meet to counter AP’s plans

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy criticised Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders for spreading falsehoods, accusing them of trying to gain political mileage in the Godavari-Banakacheral project water issue.

In the all-party Members of Parliament meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday, CM Revanth was the chief guest and Union ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay were conspicuous by their absence.

Chairing an all-party meeting attended by MPs from Congress, BJP, BRS, and AIMIM, the chief minister declared that Telangana would not allow its rightful share of the Godavari and Krishna waters to be diverted. “Politics can wait. Farmers’ rights come first,” CM Revanth Reddy said, urging all parties to stand together in defence of Telangana’s water interests.

Attendance by other parties

The Congress ministers present were Reunka Chowdhury, Mallu Ravi, Balaram Naik, Suresh Shetkar, Kunduru Raghuveer Reddy, Chammala Kiran Kumar Reddy, Anil Kumar Yadav and Raghuram Reddy.

From the Bharatiya Janata Party, DK Aruna and Raghunandan Rao attended the meeting. From the BRS party, MP Vaddirajun Ravichandra was present. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi was seated next to CM Revanth in the presentation given by senior officials of the irrigation department.

‘KCR trying to revive sentiment’

CM Revanth Reddy, during the press conference, after the presentation by minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, said, “KCR is changing his stand on the Godavari issue after losing power. They are trying to revive their party through ‘sentiment’.”

BRS accused of hypocrisy and political opportunism

CM Revanth Reddy stated that while Congress in the past worked on irrigation projects to alleviate farmers’ distress, BRS leaders, particularly KCR and Harish Rao, are now making malicious claims for political benefit. “I welcome their cooperation and suggestions if they are offered with a genuine understanding,” said CM Revanth.

‘Timeline of events of the water sharing issue’

CM Revanth presented a timeline to support his statement:

- September 21, 2016: An apex council meeting was held in Delhi where then-CM KCR and then-Irrigation minister Harish Rao participated. KCR proposed that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water was flowing into the sea. The CM asserted that the foundation for supplying water to Rayalaseema was laid in this very meeting. He offered to send an 8-page minutes of the meeting to Harish Rao.

2019: KCR reportedly met with then-AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy four times and decided to divert water to Rayalaseema. The CM recalled that then-ministers Eatala Rajender and Buggana Rajendranath Reddy held a press conference detailing this decision, with KCR promising to transform Rayalaseema into a ‘land of gems’.”

The CM argued that Andhra Pradesh is now proceeding with the Godavari-Banakacheral project, leveraging the discussions between KCR and Chandrababu Naidu from 2016.

He quoted KCR’s statement, “No basins, no ego,” from that period. He also claimed that the AP project isn’t just for 200 TMC but for 300 TMC, and that KCR had earlier agreed to take 400 TMC.

‘Protecting Telangana’s interests’

The chief minister asserted that his government is not engaging in arguments and has lodged a complaint with the Jal Shakti Ministry to prevent any harm to Telangana’s interests, denying any negligence on their part.

He directly attacked Harish Rao and accused the BRS party of making conspiracies for commissions in meetings with contractors and now trying to shift blame onto the current government.

‘Looting public wealth’

CM Revanth stated that BRS never genuinely worked for Telangana’s interests, failing to complete any pending projects in Palamoor district or any other project in their ten-year tenure. He specifically mentioned the Tummidihatti project, which could have provided gravity-fed irrigation with less expense, contrasting it with projects like Kaleshwaram, which he claimed cost Rs 1 lakh crore but failed to irrigate even 1 lakh acres due to ‘greed for commissions.’

He further alleged that BRS looted the State to fill their own pockets instead of completing pending projects. He condemned what he perceived as their ‘demonic pleasure’ when people died during works on projects like SLBC, which his government is striving to complete.

Call for unity and warning to AP CM Chandrababu Naidu

CM Revanth Reddy urged Harish Rao to act with dignity and stop spreading lies. He questioned why BRS leaders oppose the government’s meetings with the Central government for approvals on irrigation projects, metro expansion, regional ring road and Musi river cleanup.

He challenged them to provide Rs 50,000 crores in funds, promising to visit their farmhouse with bonds on behalf of the government.

Reiterating the State government’s commitment, he stated, “Telangana State’s interests are paramount to us. We have no hesitation in this matter. We are in the first stage of ‘Saama, Daana, Dando Paayalu’ (counsel, donations and punishment).’ He confirmed that they will meet everyone to explain the issues and, if justice isn’t served, will approach the courts. The Telangana government is following all procedures to explain the problems to the Centre.

Direct message to CM Naidu

He cautioned AP CM Chandrababu Naidu, stating that believing projects will be completed merely due to influence in the Central government is a ‘delusion.’ CM Revanth Reddy emphasised that Telangana has its own plan to protect its interests.

Addressing AP CM Chandrababu Naidu directly, he said, “It’s not because KCR said so. If you believe there are 3,000 TMC of surplus water in the Godavari basin, then take the surplus water only after giving Telangana full permissions to use 968 TMC.” He blamed KCR’s ‘betrayal’ of Telangana for the water flowing to Andhra Pradesh.

He highlighted the critical importance of Medigadda, stating that without it, the project is useless. He argued that if pending projects had been completed in the last ten years, Telangana wouldn’t be in this situation today, and that water from the Krishna River at Jurala could have been utilised. He questioned KCR’s responsibility for the current situation and his agreement to the Rayalaseema projects.

‘Merely getting Centre's approval does not complete projects’

CM Revanth drew an analogy between PM Modi and N Chandrababu, stating that the PM needs Chandrababu as a devotee needs a God, and Chandrababu needs Godavari water. He advised Chandrababu that merely getting Central approvals won't complete projects, and that distance won’t solve problems. He asked Andhra to grant NOCs for Telangana’s projects in the Krishna and Godavari basins, allowing AP to use the remaining water as they wish.

CM questions Kishan Reddy’s actions

The chief minister announced that he would meet Union minister CR Patil on Thursday to explain their objections regarding the Godavari project. He urged everyone to unite beyond political lines for Telangana’s interests.

“We will seek the appointment of PM Modi and Union ministers during the Parliament session and brief them about the issue of the Godavari project and the problems being faced by Telangana State. Ready to fight legally if the state cannot get justice in the political fight. We all will move forward together in this matter,” the CM said.

Finally, he questioned the motive behind Kishan Reddy meeting the Union Jal Shakti minister without attending the all-party meeting. He expressed suspicion about Kishan Reddy’s meeting today, knowing that the all-party delegation was scheduled to meet the minister tomorrow, implying a conspiracy.

Uttam Reddy explains Godavari project plans

Irrigation Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy gave a comprehensive technical presentation, ‘exposing the serious legal, hydrological, and inter-state violations embedded in the proposed PBLP scheme.’

The Rs 81,900-crore project, Uttam Kumar Reddy explained, seeks to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwaters from the Polavaram reservoir to the Penna basin via Krishna, through a three-segment engineering design involving 417 km of open canals, pipelines, tunnels, and nine power-intensive lift stations. It proposes to irrigate 7.41 lakh acres of new ayacut and stabilise another 22.59 lakh acres of existing command areas in drought-prone Rayalaseema and adjoining regions. The proposed daily drawal from Polavaram is 3 TMC, with a massive power requirement of 3,792 MW, and all of this without consent from Telangana, a co-basin state.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said the project directly breaches Sections 85(8)(d) and 90 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

It alters the operational schedule of the Polavaram National Project and violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award, which mandates consultation with all co-basin states before modifying inter-basin transfers. Further, the proposal ignores Telangana’s entitlement to 968 TMC of assured Godavari waters and unlawfully seeks to establish Andhra Pradesh’s ‘prescriptive rights’ over surplus waters through infrastructure-driven fait accompli.

‘Severe submergence and backwater flooding’

The project, if executed, would cause severe submergence and backwater flooding in the upstream Telangana districts. Uttam warned that sacred sites like the Bhadrachalam temple, Manuguru heavy water plant, and numerous habitations between Dummugudem and the Telangana-AP border would face frequent flash flood risks due to disruption in natural drainage and congestion of tributaries.

He cited Clause VI(iii) of the GWDT final order, which clearly states that any change in the operation schedule must be done only after consultations with Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha — a condition blatantly ignored by Andhra Pradesh.

Polavaram project

Uttam Kumar Reddy also spoke about ‘the environmental and administrative failures of the PBLP.’ The Polavaram Project Authority (PPA), which is the statutory agency to oversee Polavaram-related activities, has not cleared the proposal.

No Environmental Clearance (EC) or Terms of Reference (ToR) has been granted, and the Central Water Commission (CWC), in a 2018 report, had stated that there is no surplus water at Polavaram at 75 per cent dependability. Yet, Andhra Pradesh continues to present the scheme as a ‘floodwater diversion,’ misleading the Centre and violating both technical and legal norms.

The Irrigation minister revealed that while Telangana’s legitimate projects were being obstructed, Andhra Pradesh’s unlawful project was progressing at “war footing.” He accused the AP Government of forming a Special Purpose Vehicle, ‘Jala Harathi Corporation’, to hasten tendering and financial mobilisation, all without mandatory inter-state consultation.

Tracing Telangana’s opposition to the project

Tracing Telangana’s resistance to the project, Uttam Kumar Reddy detailed the sustained efforts undertaken by the Government over the past several months.

The timeline began in November 2024 when the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister first wrote to the Union Finance Minister seeking Rs 78,039 crore as a special package for the PBLP.

This was followed by a renewed demand in December under the “Swarnandhra@2047” vision, pushing the total request to Rs 80,112 crore. In response, the Telangana Government immediately began lodging formal objections, starting with a letter to the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) in early January.

On January 22, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy wrote to both the Union Jal Shakti and Finance Ministries, warning that the project would breach the APRA and GWDT Award and demanded denial of financial assistance.

On January 24, the principal secretary of Irrigation addressed the CWC and GRMB to formally request that AP be restrained from proceeding further.

On March 3, CM Revanth Reddy and Uttam personally met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and handed over a letter requesting immediate intervention. Even after Andhra Pradesh issued a GO on April 8 for the formation of the SPV, Telangana escalated objections.

During a May 14 meeting with the GRMB Chairman, CM Revanth once again raised concerns, followed by further communications to the Centre on May 28, June 11, June 13 and June 16. These letters opposed the pre-feasibility report (PFR), questioned the Ministry of Finance’s role, and urged the Ministry of Environment not to grant any ToR.

The meeting ended with a unanimous decision to escalate the matter through all legal and constitutional channels. Telangana is preparing to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the project and seeking a stay on all related proceedings.

The State Government accorded top priority to the protection of the farmers’ interests. We should move forward by taking up the farmers’ interests as the main agenda beyond politics and work together, the CM said.

“Politics aside, we will never compromise on farmers’ interests. Water is our lifeline and Telangana will fight - technically, legally, and politically - to safeguard it,” the chief minister said.