In a significant political development ahead of the scheduled meeting between Union Water Resources Minister CR Patil and the state governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the Telangana government has formally expressed its objections to the agenda set by Andhra Pradesh regarding the Banakacharla project.
In a letter to the Centre, the Telangana government has made it clear that it sees no need to discuss the Banakacharla project during the forthcoming meeting scheduled for July 16th. Instead, the state has proposed prioritizing discussions on pending projects related to the Krishna River.
The letter, penned by Telangana officials, includes several proposals. The state has requested national status for the Palamuru and Dindi projects, advocated for the Ichchampalli project to be taken up by the Centre, and proposed the allocation of 80 TMC of water for the Pranahita project at Thummadihetti. Additionally, Telangana has put forward a proposal for a new inter-state irrigation project.
This move by Telangana comes amidst growing tension between the two states over the sharing of river waters. The Krishna River is a critical water source for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and discussions on its management have been contentious for many years.
The Union Water Resources Minister’s meeting will be an important step towards resolving these issues. It remains to be seen how the two states will navigate this complex situation and whether a consensus can be reached. Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
