New Delhi: In the lead-up to a key Apex Council meeting scheduled for July 16, the Telangana government has raised strong objections to Andhra Pradesh’s proposal to include the Banakacharla project on the agenda. The meeting, convened by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, will focus on river water-sharing issues and new irrigation proposals under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The meeting will be chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
Responding to the Centre’s invitation to submit discussion points, Telangana wrote to the Ministry opposing the inclusion of Banakacharla. It stated that there is no requirement to discuss the project, as it lacks statutory approvals and is in violation of existing laws and tribunal verdicts. Telangana warned that deliberating on such unauthorized projects could erode trust in central regulatory mechanisms.
Instead, the Telangana government proposed alternative agenda items, including the granting of national project status to the Palamuru-Rangareddy and Dindi projects, central execution of the Ichampalli project, and allocation of 80 TMC feet of water for the Pranahita project at Tummadihatti. Telangana also called for the construction of a new project to utilize 200 TMC feet of Godavari floodwaters.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh submitted a single-point agenda focused on the Banakacharla project, which it recently proposed to divert Godavari waters for use in drought-prone areas. Telangana has been strongly opposing the move, arguing that it is being taken forward without necessary approvals or inter-state consultation.
The Apex Council meeting will be held at 2:30 PM at the Jal Shakti Ministry’s headquarters in Shram Shakti Bhavan, New Delhi. Both states were asked to submit any objections or agenda items in advance. The outcome of the meeting could have far-reaching implications for inter-state water-sharing dynamics in southern India.