Centre rejects Polavaram-Banakacharla project proposal

In a significant development, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has rejected the proposal for the Polavaram-Banakacharla Link Project put forth by the Andhra Pradesh government.

The decision, announced on June 30, 2025, cites unresolved inter-state water disputes, lack of clearance from the Central Water Commission (CWC), and violations of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal (GWDT) Award of 1980 as key reasons for the rejection.

Banakacharla controversy

The Polavaram-Banakacharla project aimed to divert surplus Godavari floodwaters to drought-prone regions in Andhra Pradesh by enhancing the Polavaram Right Main Canal’s capacity from 17,500 to 38,000 cusecs. However, the proposal faced strong opposition from the Telangana government, which argued that the project infringes on its water rights and violates the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA) and GWDT provisions.

The EAC’s decision has been hailed as a major victory by Telangana leaders. “This is a significant win for Telangana in safeguarding its water rights,” said a post from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on X, crediting the party’s persistent efforts. Telangana has also indicated plans to pursue legal action, potentially approaching the Supreme Court, to ensure the project does not resurface in a revised form.

Andhra not happy!

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, defending the project, had earlier emphasized that it would only utilize surplus floodwaters without affecting Telangana’s interests. However, critics, including retired irrigation experts from Alochanaparuka Vedika, raised concerns about the project’s high maintenance costs and potential flooding risks in Vijayawada, suggesting a gravity-based alternative via Bollapalli and Nuzvidu. The rejection has sparked mixed reactions. While Telangana leaders and citizens celebrated the decision as a triumph for inter-state water equity, Andhraites urged the Centre to ensure no revised proposals are entertained in the future. The controversy underscores ongoing tensions between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over water-sharing, with Telangana advocating for a resolution through dialogue or legal channels to protect its interests.