Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has made it clear that his government is opposed to the Banakacharla project proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government on the Godavari river. As part of that, he said that he is making efforts to stop this project and has already brought this issue to the attention of Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil and spoken to him.
He said that he has requested him to stop the construction of this project and the objections related to this project have already been informed to the Center. In that order, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy explained that the Godavari River Management Board has written letters to the Union Jal Shakti Minister.
The Minister said that he will make all possible efforts to stop the construction of this project. As the Godavari river floods, water flows into the sea. In this context, the coalition government in AP has decided to divert that surplus water for public benefit. As part of that, it was planned to divert the flood water to Rayalaseema and the combined Nellore and Prakasam districts through the construction of the Banakacharla project.
It was said that this would meet the drinking and irrigation water needs. In that order, CM Chandrababu Naidu has already discussed the construction of this project with the Center. He also explained the benefits of the construction of this project through a letter to the Center.
In this context, on June 2, a meeting was held in New Delhi with the Union Finance Secretary, AP Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Piyush Kumar, and AP Government Water Advisor Venkateswara Rao. AP officials explained the construction of this project to the Union Finance Secretary as an example.
In this context, when the Union Finance Department officials questioned the AP officials about whether there was any possibility of Telangana being affected by the construction of this project, it is known that the state officials also gave them a clear explanation. It is known that the AP government has decided to build this Banakacharla project at a cost of Rs. 81,000 crores.
On the other hand, it is known that BRS leader and MLC K. Kavitha has already expressed objection to the construction of the Banakacharla project. She alleged that the Revanth Reddy government has not responded to this issue.