Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Former minister Harish Rao has written a letter to Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on the issue of construction of Banakacharla project by the neighbouring AP State. He congratulated the minister for opposing the Central government's approval of the preliminary report of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Project.

In his letter, Rao said according to the Andhra Pradesh State Bifurcation Act 2014, when any new project is undertaken, it is mandatory to obtain the permission of the Godavari and Krishna Boards and the permission of the Apex Council. He alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government was unilaterally violating the Bifurcation Act and moving forward to build the project without informing either Telangana State or the boards.

Rao said there were reports that tenders would be called for the Banakacharla project soon by the AP government. He appealed to the Union Jal Shakti Minister to immediately convene an Apex Council meeting to discuss this issue as the Andhra Pradesh government is violating the Bifurcation Act 2014.

Noting that this is a matter of State interest, he urged that an all-party meeting be convened as soon as possible and added that a special legislative assembly meeting be convened, and a policy decision be taken on this issue after taking into account everyone's opinions.

He said he hoped the Irrigation minister Uttam Kumar Reddy would pay attention to the issues raised by him and take appropriate action by keeping in mind the interests of the State. He made it clear that the BRS party would stand by the State government in this effort without any ulterior motives.