Andhra's Rs 82,000-crore Godavari diversion project runs into environmental hurdle

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An environment ministry panel has returned the Andhra Pradesh’s Rs 82,000-crore Polavaram-Banakacharla Link project proposal, asking the state government to first consult the Central Water Commission (CWC) on the plan to divert surplus water of the Godavari river.

The Expert Appraisal Committee said the environmental clearance for the Polavaram project, granted by the Centre on January 25, 2005, was resisted by Odisha and Chhattisgarh and the matter was sub judice.

“Furthermore, the EAC noted that several representations have been received via email, alleging that the proposed scheme may be in violation of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award, 1980,” the minutes of a June 17 meeting, reviewed by Moneycontrol, said.

The state government proposed to divert surplus Godavari river water to the Pennar basin through the Krishna river.

EAC suggested that the Andhra government approach the CWC for examining the inter-state issues and granting necessary clearance/permission before submitting the proposal for framing the terms of reference to conduct environment impact assessment study.

The proposed  project aims to divert 200 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of floodwater from the Polavaram dam,  in to the Banakacherla Regulator on the Srisailam Right Main Canal, to cater to the water-deficit regions of Andhra, especially the drought-prone Rayalaseema region.

According to the state government, the project includes provision of drinking water to approximately 80 lakh people, creation of a new irrigation ayacut of 3.00 lakh hectares, stabilisation of an existing ayacut of 9.14 lakh hectares, supply of 20 TMC of water for industrial use, and development of 400 MW of hydropower generation capacity.

The project is being opposed by the neighbouring Telangana, which has argued that the project would deprive it of its rightful share of Godavari water and it is also against the AP Reorganisation Act, 2024, which says no new project shall be taken up by either of the two Telugu states without the consent of the other.

Reacting to EAC decision, Telangana irrigation minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said, "It was only after (Telangana) chief minister A Revanth Reddy and I wrote several letters to the Centre and personally took up the issue with Union Jal Sakthi minister CR Patil, that the Centre put on hold the project."

His Andhra counterpart Nimmala Ramanaidu said the proposed project would not affect interests of Telangana, as it would utilise the Godavari water only after the upper riparian states of Maharashtra and Telangana fully utilise their entitled quota.

Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party is a part of the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance at the Centre, announce the project in 2024.