Andhra Pradesh govt presses CWC for technical approval to Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar link

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh on Monday strongly pressed the Central Water Commission (CWC) to accord technical approval to the proposed Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar/Banakacherla head regulator link project and sought a review of clearances granted to Telangana 's Kaleshwaram project. AP water resources engineer-in-chief (ENC) K Narasimha Murthy placed the state's arguments before the CWC at a meeting held in New Delhi, which was presided over by commission chairperson Anupam Prasad. The meeting, aimed at resolving the long-pending inter-state water disputes, was convened as a follow-up to the high-level talks held in Jan this year under the chairmanship of Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil. After the Jan meeting, attended by AP chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy, the Union Jal Shakti ministry had entrusted the CWC with coordinating with the two Telugu states and facilitating negotiations to resolve their outstanding water disputes. The CWC subsequently sought agenda items and supporting information from the states before convening Monday's meeting. However, it took the commission more than eight months to bring the two states back to the negotiating table. The delay came despite several contentious issues involving the Krishna and Godavari rivers remaining unresolved between AP and Telangana. AP's presentation focused on the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar link, through which the state proposes to utilise surplus Godavari floodwaters. It has maintained that the project is intended to use water that would otherwise flow into the sea and would not affect the legitimate entitlements of the upper riparian states. AP water resources advisor M Venkateswara Rao said the state was prepared to defend the project on both technical and legal grounds. 'The Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar link is designed to utilise surplus floodwaters without affecting the entitlements of other states. AP will place all the technical and legal aspects before the competent authorities,' he said. The state also sought a comprehensive review of the approvals granted to Telangana's Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, contending that the project had implications for inter-state water management and should be examined in the light of the applicable tribunal awards and statutory provisions. AP also raised issues relating to Telangana's Palamuru-Rangareddy Lift Irrigation Scheme and the neighbouring state's defiance of KRMB's directive to stop power generation at Srisailam reservoir despite clear instructions. AP requested CWC to prevail upon Telangana to immediately stop power generation to protect precious waters in Srisailam. Another important issue raised was the proposed Godavari-Cauvery river-linking initiative. AP has argued that substantial quantities of Godavari floodwater are available for diversion during the flood season and that such surplus flows can be utilised for the benefit of downstream regions, subject to applicable legal and technical requirements. Despite the extensive arguments presented by both states, the meeting ended without a concrete outcome. The CWC chairman confined the proceedings largely to hearing and examining the positions of AP and Telangana, and did not take any decision on the contentious proposals. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Vijayawada | Silver Rate in Vijayawada | Bank Holidays in Vijayawada | Public Holidays in Vijayawada | Petrol Price in Vijayawada | Diesel Price in Vijayawada | CNG Price in Vijayawada | LPG Price in Vijayawada Stay updated with the latest Vijayawada news. Download the TOI App.