AP, Telangana CMs Meet Over Banakacherla, Other Water Projects

The Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana met in New Delhi today to discuss inter-State water disputes.

AP CM Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy held talks under the auspices of Union Water Resources Minister C R Patil, at Shram Shakti Bhavan.

Also present were the water resources ministers of both States - Nimmala Ramanaidu (AP) and N Uttam Kumar Reddy (Telangana) - along with the Chief Secretaries, water resources department secretaries and senior engineers of both governments.

Andhra Pradesh proposed a single-point agenda focusing on the Godavari-Banakacherla project linkage, while Telangana submitted a list of 13 agenda items. The Union government included proposals from both States in the official meeting.

Prior to the meeting, both Chief Ministers held consultations with their respective officials to review the discussion points and finalise the technical responses. They conducted in-depth reviews with their respective Chief Secretaries and senior irrigation officials at their official residences.

During the meeting, Andhra Pradesh submitted a detailed report outlining the objectives of the Godavari-Banakacherla project. The report emphasised the optimal use of surplus water currently flowing into the sea. Citing 100-year average flow statistics, the AP delegation said that 3,000 TMC of Godavari water flowed into the sea annually, and proposed diverting up to 200 TMC through the Banakacherla project.

It also said that the project would not harm the interests of upstream States, and that AP had not objected to any irrigation project built in Telangana over the past 11 years. AP urged Telangana and the Centre to view its proposal through the lens of a downstream State's needs.

Speaking after the meeting, AP minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said that that three major decisions were taken:

1. Installation of telemetry systems at reservoirs and outlets in both States.
2. Immediate implementation of protection measures for the Srisailam project, based on expert recommendations.
3. Agreement that the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) will be headquartered in Amaravathi and the Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) in Telangana.

Ramanaidu also said that a technical committee would be formed to address issues raised by Telangana regarding the Polavaram and Banakacherla projects, and that the committee, expected to be constituted by next Monday, would include experts from both States.

Ramanaidu added that discussions also included broader issues concerning the Krishna and Godavari river waters sharing.