HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has announced a crucial meeting to be held on June 18, 2025 at the Secretariat, inviting all Members of Parliament (both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) to discuss the proposed Godavari-Banakacherla (G-B) project put forward by the Andhra Pradesh government. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will attend the meeting.
Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy, who also serves as the BJP state president, and Bandi Sanjay Kumar have also been extended invitations to contribute their views.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh had submitted its proposal for the G-B project to the Ministries of Jal Shakti and Finance. “According to a preliminary study, the project appears to violate both the Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal (GWDT) award of 1980 and the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act (APRA), 2014. The project, if implemented, would adversely impact the water rights of Telangana,” he reiterated.
The Minister further recalled that he had written to the Union Ministers of Finance and Jal Shakti on January 22, 2025, outlining Telangana’s objections. Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, in his response dated May 28, 2025, assured that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the G-B link scheme had not yet been submitted to the Central government. He added that once received, the project would be reviewed in accordance with existing tribunal awards, inter-state agreements, and APRA provisions.
Uttam Kumar Reddy also mentioned that he and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had met Minister Patil in New Delhi on June 3, 2025, where they again expressed Telangana’s strong reservations about the project.
He further stated that a follow-up letter was sent to Minister Patil on June 13, 2025, reiterating Telangana’s request to reject the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the G-B project, which is currently under review by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
“In light of these developments, and to determine the next steps, we are holding this meeting to seek the views and suggestions of all MPs from Telangana. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will be present, and we hope for constructive inputs from all stakeholders, including Union Ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy.
It may be noted that the Godavari-Banakacherla project proposed by Andhra Pradesh seeks to divert 200 TMCFT of Godavari water to the Penna basin via the Krishna basin, at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crore. Telangana has consistently objected to the plan, citing that it has not received clearance from the Apex Council, the Godavari River Management Board, or any other statutory body, as mandated by the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
Recently, Andhra Pradesh officials presented their arguments in favour of the project to the Union Finance Ministry.
