metro india news  I hyderabad

In the lead-up to the crucial inter-state water dispute talks slated for July 16 (Thursday) in New Delhi where Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu are set to meet in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, the Telangana government has strongly objected to the inclusion of the controversial Banakacharla project in the agenda. In a strongly worded letter submitted on Tuesday morning, just 24 hours before the meeting, Telangana Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, acting on the directive of Chief Minister  Revanth Reddy, conveyed the state’s categorical objection to the Centre.

Telangana stated unequivocally that the Banakacharla lift irrigation project, proposed by Andhra Pradesh, does not merit consideration as a meeting agenda item, citing the absence of required statutory and technical approvals. The letter highlighted that the project has not received clearance from key central regulatory bodies, including the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), the Central Water Commission (CWC), or the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. In fact, Telangana pointed out that the EAC had earlier rejected even the pre-feasibility report submitted by Andhra Pradesh.

Describing the proposal as unauthorised and irrelevant, the Telangana government warned that bringing such an unapproved project for discussion would not only undermine the sanctity of central institutions but also risk creating avoidable tensions between the two states. The state argued that entertaining such violations could set a dangerous precedent, weakening the credibility of federally guided water-sharing institutions and tribunal verdicts.

Instead, Telangana has urged the Centre to focus on long-pending, legally sanctioned and environmentally vetted projects that are crucial for its rightful share in Krishna river waters. The state has demanded that national project status be granted to the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi lift irrigation projects—both of which have been under development for years. It also sought central allocation of 80 TMC of water for the Pranahita project at Thummadihatti and called for the Centre to take over the Icchampally project as a national asset. Additionally, Telangana proposed a new project aimed at utilising 200 TMC of floodwaters from Icchampally, which it described as a vital and realistic solution for equitable water use.

In its communication to the Union Jal Shakti Ministry, Telangana has requested the immediate removal of Banakacharla from the meeting agenda and urged the Centre to reschedule any future discussions on the matter until consensus is reached through bilateral engagement.