Hyderabad, July 1 – In a significant development, the Congress government in Telangana is celebrating a victory over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh following the refusal of the Central Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to grant clearance for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project. The project was proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government, and Telangana’s Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has claimed that efforts of the Telangana government have borne fruit as the Environment Ministry’s EAC has concluded that environmental clearances cannot be granted at this time.
The Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project is located near the border between the two states, and there had been concerns about potential disputes or resource sharing issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In a letter to the Centre, both Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy expressed their concerns and suggested proactive measures to protect Telangana’s interests.
This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions between the two states over various issues, with the latest being a dispute over the sharing of irrigation water from the Srisailam reservoir. The refusal of the EAC to grant clearance for the Polavaram-Banakacherla Link Project is seen as a significant victory for Telangana in its efforts to protect its interests against encroachment by neighbouring states.
However, the issue is far from resolved, and both states are expected to continue their negotiations over water sharing and other disputes. In recent years, there have been several incidents of violence and protests along the border between the two states, and it remains to be seen whether this decision will lead to a de-escalation of tensions or further escalate the ongoing dispute.
Meanwhile, in other political news, the Maoist insurgency continues to pose a significant threat to peace and stability in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. The aggressive stance taken by the state government has not been enough to quell the unrest, with frequent incidents of violence and Maoist activity reported in the area. The ongoing conflict has resulted in loss of life and property, and there are fears that the situation could further deteriorate in the coming months.
