T'gana CM urges Centre to reject Pre Feasibility Report of Andhra's river linking project

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday urged Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil to reject the Pre Feasibility Report of Godavari-Banakacharla (G-B) river linking project submitted by the Andhra Pradesh government.

During a meeting with Patil in Delhi, he said the proposed project was fundamentally against the interests of Telangana.

He alleged that Andhra Pradesh's actions contravene both the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 vis-a-vis the project.

He conveyed to the Union Minister concerns of the farmers and people of Telangana regarding the stance adopted by the Union Environment and Finance Ministries in granting permissions for the project.

The CM highlighted that while Andhra Pradesh claimed that the project would only utilise flood waters of Godavari, there is no mention of either flood water or surplus water in the decisions of GWDT-1980.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act stipulates that if any new project is proposed in any state, it must get approval after discussion in the concerned River Management Board, the Central Water Commission and the apex council comprising the Chief Ministers of the two states and the Union Jal Shakti Minister, he said.

Andhra Pradesh is violating all these requirements, an official release quoted him as saying.

The CM requested Patil to ensure that Andhra Pradesh does not proceed with the river linking project.

He also pressed for the swift announcement of the award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-2 (KWDT).

The Jal Shakti Ministry and Andhra Pradesh should issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Telangana to utilise 1,000 TMC of water from Godavari and 500 TMC from Krishna river, he added.

Noting that 1.50 crore acres of land in Telangana would be irrigated with the 1500 TMC, he claimed that the Telangana government would have no objection if the process of approving Andhra's projects is taken up then.

The CM also warned that his government would approach the Supreme Court if the Centre's response to their demands is not favourable.

Revanth Reddy also sought central funding for the Musi river rejuvenation proposed by the Telangana government similar to the financial support extended for Namami Gange and Yamuna river cleaning programmes.

Addressing media after the meeting, the irrigation minister quoted Patil as having said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Godavari-Banakacharla river linking project has not been received from Andhra Pradesh.

Patil also assured that a meeting of the apex council would be convened soon to discuss the concerns raised by the Telangana government, the minister said.

The Banakacharla river linking project has emerged as a key issue in Telangana in the last few weeks with the state government expressing concerns.

The opposition BRS has accused the Congress government of remaining silent despite neighbouring Andhra "taking away" Telangana's waters.

Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy met Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and sought approval to phase-2 of Hyderabad Metro Rail project.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had earlier said the Polavaram (Godavari)-Banakacherla project is aimed at taking surplus Godavari waters to the drought-hit regions of Andhra.

Naidu had said Telangana need not worry as only excess water from the Godavari river will be utilised, which otherwise would drain into the sea.