4 months ago
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Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy connected Wednesday asserted that the Telangana authorities has taken a bid of pro-active administrative and ineligible measures to support State’s irrigation interests successful the ongoing inter-State h2o quality implicit Andhra Pradesh’s projected diversion of Godavari waters done expansions related to the Polavaram project.
In a elaborate connection issued to the media connected Wednesday, Mr. Reddy highlighted the contention surrounding Andhra Pradesh’s archetypal Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP), which was aboriginal repackaged arsenic the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar Link Project (PNLP). These schemes question to divert up to 200 TMC of Godavari floodwaters to A.P.
“Telangana has consistently maintained that these projects interruption the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980, CWC- TAC clearance accorded for Polavaram Irrigation project, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, and Central Water Commission (CWC) guidelines. They spell beyond the primitively approved 80 TMC diversion to the Krishna basin and encroach connected flood waters that stay unallocated, “ Mr. Reddy stated.
The Minister outlined cardinal actions taken by the Telangana authorities starting aboriginal this year. Upon learning of Andhra Pradesh’s plans, correspondence was initiated, including letters connected January 22, 2025, to the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), and further connected June 13 and 16, 2025, to MoJS and the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), urging rejection of appraisals owed to violations.
These interventions straight led to the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF&CC returning Andhra Pradesh’s connection connected June 30, 2025, citing unresolved inter-State issues, imaginable GWDT violations and the request for CWC clearances. Objections were besides raised with cardinal bodies including MoJS, CWC, Godavari River Management Board (GRMB), Krishna River Management Board (KRMB), and Polavaram Project Authority (PPA). These cardinal bodies person besides furnished observations objecting to the PFR connection by A, helium pointed out.
Further, helium said successful July 2025, pursuing a high-level meeting, the State flagged outstanding issues successful the Krishna and Godavari basins for docket inclusion and resolution, but outrightly rejected the inclusion of PB Link arsenic 1 of the docket items. As Andhra Pradesh persisted by floating tenders connected November 21, 2025, for a Detailed Project Report connected the renamed PNLP and continuing unapproved expansions, Telangana escalated the contented legally by filing Writ Petition No. 1258 of 2025 successful the Supreme Court connected December 16, 2025.
The petition seeks directives to halt each works connected PBLP/PNLP oregon related Polavaram expansions, restrain cardinal agencies from appraising reports, granting clearances, oregon releasing funds, and halt ongoing capableness enhancements and tender processes.
“These ineligible steps manifest our unwavering committedness to protecting Telangana’s allocated 968 tmcft stock successful Godavari waters and safeguarding aboriginal irrigation projects,” Mr. Reddy emphasised. Refuting absorption claims of inaction, the Minister said, “We are afloat committed to protecting the h2o rights of Telangana State. Our swift objections resulted successful the EAC’s rejection earlier this year, and the Supreme Court filing ensures an aboriginal proceeding to forestall Andhra Pradesh from proceeding unilaterally.”
He added that floodwaters stay unallocated and indispensable impact consultations by some the States. All these proactive initiatives person culminated successful the applicable cardinal agencies raising observations and formally objecting to the PBLP/PNLP, demonstrating our broad strategy to guarantee equitable h2o information for the State,” helium maintained.
