Minister Uttam ridicules Harish Rao’s allegations over Godavari-Bankacharla project

Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt N Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly refuted allegations by BRS leader T Harish Rao, asserting that Godavari-Bankacharla is a project proposed by Chandrababu Naidu Government to the Government of India and Telangana Government has already conveyed its objection to it.

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Addressing the media at the Secretariat, Uttam Kumar Reddy clarified that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has merely submitted a proposal for the Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme to the Centre. He accused Harish Rao of fabricating claims and misleading the public by falsely stating that 200 TMC of water had already been diverted.

The Minister revealed that he had written to Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging them to deny any financial or regulatory support for the project. In his letters, Uttam Kumar Reddy highlighted that the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla Link Scheme violates the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 and the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act (APRA) of 2014. He expressed concern that if allowed to proceed, the project would undermine Telangana’s water rights and disrupt the equitable management of interstate river waters.

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According to the proposal by Andhra Pradesh, the project aims to divert 200 TMC of floodwaters from the River Godavari at Polavaram to Rayalaseema via Bollapalli reservoir and Banakacherla head regulator. Estimated to cost Rs 80,112 crore, the scheme comprises three segments connecting the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers. Andhra Pradesh is seeking central grants under Sections 46 (2) and 46 (3) of the APRA 2014, which are meant for the development of backward regions. However, Uttam Kumar Reddy argued that these provisions cannot be used to bypass mandatory clearances from the Central Water Commission (CWC), Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and the Apex Council.

In his letter to Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, Uttam Kumar Reddy emphasized that Andhra Pradesh had not sought technical appraisals or approvals for the project from the required authorities. He pointed out that the project is based on surplus waters of the Godavari Basin, which remain unquantified and unallocated between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Telangana, with a rightful share of 968 TMC under the GWDT Award, cannot permit such projects to proceed without ensuring its water rights are protected. Reddy also raised concerns that the scheme would deprive drought-prone areas in Telangana of critical water resources and set a dangerous precedent for future inter-state water-sharing disputes.

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In his letter, Uttam Kumar Reddy Reddy also highlighted concerns about Andhra Pradesh proceeding with tendering processes and planning press conferences to promote the project despite the lack of approvals. He urged the Centre to prevent Andhra Pradesh from moving forward and to ensure that no financial assistance is provided until all statutory requirements are fulfilled. He specifically requested the intervention of CWC, GRMB, KRMB, and the Apex Council to reject the project outright.

Uttam Kumar Reddy further clarified that the Telangana government is closely monitoring the situation and has taken proactive measures to safeguard its interests. He reassured the public, saying, “Not a single drop of water has been flown from Godavari to Andhra Pradesh. We are handling the situation with utmost caution.” He also accused Harish Rao of resorting to imaginary scenarios to mislead people. “Andhra Pradesh has only submitted a proposal, but Harish Rao, in his imagination, falsely claims that 200 TMC of water has already been diverted,” he said.

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The Minister criticized the previous BRS government for its failure to protect Telangana’s water interests during its tenure. He pointed to their acceptance of a lower Krishna water allocation of 299 TMC in 2015, instead of demanding the rightful 70% share, as an example of their poor governance. Additionally, he slammed the Rs 1 lakh crore Kaleshwaram project, calling it a costly failure due to poor planning and execution. “The people of Telangana are openly questioning why this expensive project has not delivered as promised,” he said.

He further accused former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao of facilitating the construction of the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS) by the Andhra Pradesh government through inaction. He said due to a lack of timely intervention of the then BRS government, Andhra Pradesh began works on the RLIS. Additional delays occurred when the Telangana Chief Secretary postponed the Apex Council meeting originally scheduled for August 5, 2020, thereby allowing Andhra Pradesh to proceed with the RLIS tendering process.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reaffirmed that the Congress government would continue to oppose the project and take all necessary steps to protect its water rights and the interests of its people. (Maxim News)

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