Panel to resolve AP-Telangana dispute over Polavaram project

The Centre on Wednesday decided to constitute a high-level technical committee within a week to examine concerns around the Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) and other pending inter-state water issues between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The move follows a high-level meeting chaired by Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil with both Chief Ministers -- N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and A Revanth Reddy of Telangana in New Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry said the committee, comprising senior officials and technical experts from both states and the Centre, will collaboratively assess outstanding issues and recommend equitable and technically viable solutions. In the meeting, the ministry also decided to instal telemetry devices at off-take points of the reservoirs on the two rivers.

Briefing media after the meeting, Reddy said the agreement to form a technical committee reflects a shared commitment to resolve the dispute amicably. "Three decisions were taken in the meeting... Since technical issues are involved in the Polavaram–Banakacherla Project, it was decided to set up a committee in a week's time," Andhra Pradesh Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu told reporters. This committee will serve as a basic mechanism to draft a technical/ administrative roadmap to provide justice to both states. The issues are concerning two different states ruled by two different parties but "Telugu people are one", he said.

The PBLP is a major inter-basin river linking initiative proposed by the Andhra Pradesh government and aims to alleviate water scarcity in drought-prone regions, especially Rayalaseema, by transferring surplus water from the Godavari river to the Krishna and Penna basins via a network of reservoirs, canals and lift irrigation systems. Telangana sees the project as a threat to its water security and a violation of interstate agreements, while Andhra views it as a critical initiative to address water scarcity in Rayalaseema using surplus floodwater.