Telangana CM Revanth Reddy is facing backlash for attending a Delhi meeting where Andhra Pradesh’s Banakacherla project was discussed.
Citizens accuse him of compromising state water rights, prompting calls for a renewed movement to protect Telangana’s river resources.
Hyderabad: Has the Congress government in Telangana conceded to the demands of Andhdra Pradesh about the Banakacherla project?
The July 16 meeting convened by the Centre and attended by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minsiter N Chandrababu Naidu, has now sparked outrage across the State.
The meeting, held to discuss water-sharing issues, has left Telangana feeling betrayed, with accusations that the state’s water rights are handed over to Andhra Pradesh. Before the meeting, Revanth Reddy had told the media he would boycott any discussion on Banakacherla, a project proposed by AP on the Godavari River that Telangana fears will divert its water share.
However, he attended the Delhi meeting, where Banakacherla was a key agenda item. It was the sole issue proposed by Andhra Pradesh. While Revanth Reddy later claimed the project was not discussed, Andhra Pradesh Irrigation Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu confirmed it was the main topic.
This contradiction has fuelled distrust among Telangana’s people. The meeting, mediated by Union Minister C.R. Patil decided to form a committee within five days to study water-sharing issues, including Banakacherla and projects on the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
The committee will submit a report within 30 days, and Revanth Reddy said its recommendations would be followed. It is seen as a step toward Telangana’s approval of the Banakacherla project, which could harm the state’s farmers.
Telangana’s anger stems from a long history of fighting for fair water distribution. The state’s activists recall past struggles, including demands by former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for an amicable resolution of river water disputes, which the central government ignored. The Banakacherla project is viewed as a new threat, reviving fears of losing rightful share of water to Andhra Pradesh.
It is pointed out that four key bodies-Central Water Commission, Godavari River Management Board, Polavaram Project Authority, and the Ministry of Environment’s Expert Appraisal Committee-had previously raised technical issues with Banakacherla, yet none were involved in the Delhi meeting.
The public in Telangana is furious, accusing Revanth Reddy of misleading them and siding with Andhra Pradesh under pressure from the Central Government and Chandrababu Naidu.
The question is why he agreed to a committee without consulting the Telangana assembly? Some even allege the BJP led central government is favoring Andhra Pradesh, pointing to the demotion of a Godavari River Management Board official who opposed Banakacherla.
Across all sections a sense of alienation has gripped once again and there is a call for a fresh wave of movement to protect the state’s water rights. They warn that allowing Banakacherla could dry up Telangana’s fields, undoing decades of struggle for statehood and fair resources.
The meeting has put the Congress government in the State under scrutiny. Neither Revanth Reddy nor Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy challenged the committee’s formation, leaving many in the state feeling abandoned.
As Telangana prepares for what some call “another phase of people’s movement” the Banakacherla issue has become a flashpoint, with the people vowing to resist what they see as a betrayal of their rights.