metro india news  I hyderabad

Minister for Irrigation Uttam Kumar Reddy on Sunday reiterated that the Telangana government is firmly opposing the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar project at all appropriate forums, stating that the project violates interstate river water regulations and threatens Telangana’s rightful interests.

Speaking to the media in a formal interaction in Assembly, the Minister clarified that the letter being circulated by former minister Harish Rao has no connection with the Polavaram–Nallamala issue. He said the Telangana government has formally written to the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), objecting to the Polavaram–Nallamala project on the grounds that it contravenes interstate rules. The GRMB, he added, has also endorsed Telangana’s objections in principle.

Uttam Kumar Reddy pointed out that not only Telangana, but also Maharashtra and Karnataka have raised objections to the Polavaram–Nallamala project. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh is attempting to justify the construction of new projects on the Godavari by citing floodwaters, primarily because it has failed to complete earlier approved projects on the river.

The Minister said senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi has been instructed to strongly present Telangana’s arguments before the Supreme Court. The matter has been adjourned to next Monday, when the state will seek an interim stay on the project. He noted that the Supreme Court has suggested that the matter be pursued through a suit petition rather than a writ petition. 

Uttam Kumar Reddy said he would personally attend the next hearing and would hold another round of consultations with legal experts in the next one or two days.

Highlighting recent developments, the Minister said that the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme was halted only after the Congress government came to power in Telangana. He questioned why the previous BRS government did not raise the issue effectively when the project was underway earlier, and asserted that sustained pressure from the Telangana government forced Andhra Pradesh to stop the Rayalaseema lift works.

Criticising the previous BRS regime, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that during its tenure, there was “more clever talk and less real work” on Krishna and Godavari river waters, which resulted in significant losses to Telangana. He alleged that major policy shifts—such as diverting the Palamuru-Rangareddy project from Jurala to Srisailam, and changing the Kaleshwaram project alignment from Tummidihatti to Medigadda—caused severe financial and technical harm to the state. The Minister asserted that the present Congress government is committed to safeguarding Telangana’s river water rights through legal, technical, and institutional means.