Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Former Jal Shakti Ministry advisor Sriram Vedire has red flagged Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Godavari-Banakacharla (G-B) Link project, stating it has no legal or scientific legitimacy and could lead to interstate conflicts. He proposed the Godavari-Cauvery Inter Linking of Rivers (ILR) project via Icchampalli as a more viable and legally tenable alternative that can benefit both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh without violating water-sharing norms.

Speaking at a “Meet the Press” event on “Godavari Waters: Facts and Figures – A Way Forward for Telugu States organised recently by senior Journalist Kappara Prasad under the aegis of Telangana Journalists Union ,” Vedire clarified that the concept of “flood waters” being available for separate irrigation planning is imaginary and baseless. “There is no recognition by the Central Water Commission (CWC) or any Indian tribunal for the utilization of flood waters as a distinct category,” he said.

Vedire emphasized that water allocations in India are done based on 75% dependability, ensuring equitable and predictable water use among co-basin states. “CWC has allocated 531.9 TMC to Andhra Pradesh at 75% dependability, which the state has already utilized in full. Planning new projects based on average flows or so-called flood waters goes against the legal framework,” he said.

The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) also does not acknowledge flood waters in its award. Vedire noted that the 1,138 TMC of average water flow in the Godavari includes unutilized assured waters from upstream states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha, along with spills from their projects. These waters are common to all co-basin states, and cannot be claimed solely by downstream states like Andhra Pradesh.

He expressed concern that the G-B (Godavari-Banakacharla) Link project could jeopardize upstream projects such as Telangana’s Sammakka Sagar and Chhattisgarh’s Bodhghat, which are yet to be fully realized. Allowing AP to go ahead with the G-B Link based on surplus waters would violate the legitimate rights of upstream states and lead to operational and legal conflicts.

Vedire argued that the belief that Godavari water is going to waste is misinformed, stemming from non-utilization of allocated water by some states—not because of any real surplus. “There is no legal provision in India for planning irrigation on the basis of average water flows. Mixing average flow-based projects with assured allocation-based projects will create administrative chaos and water disputes,” he warned.

Way forward for Telugu states

Vedire recommended scrapping the G-B Link project and instead pursuing the Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) ILR project via Icchampalli, as proposed by NWDA (National Water Development Agency). This link would utilize unutilized assured waters of Chhattisgarh without affecting allocations to Telangana or Andhra Pradesh. The Union Government would bear 90% of the cost, with only 10% shared among the beneficiary states.