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Expert Appraisal Committee Sends Andhra’s Polavaram-Banakacherla Project Back to CWC

The Expert Appraisal Committee ruled that Andhra Pradesh must secure Central Water Commission clearance on inter-state water-sharing before framing terms of reference for an environmental impact assessment.

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The Telangana government argued that the project would deprive it of its rightful share in the Godavari waters. (HT archive)
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Overview

  • The Ministry of Environment’s Expert Appraisal Committee returned Andhra Pradesh’s request for terms of reference, citing unresolved inter-state issues under the 1980 Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the 2014 AP Reorganisation Act.
  • Without approved terms of reference, no environmental impact assessment can begin, effectively pausing all detailed project studies for the ₹81,900 crore link scheme.
  • The committee advised Andhra Pradesh to consult the Central Water Commission on flood water availability and obtain necessary inter-state clearances before resubmitting its proposal.
  • Telangana leaders, including Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, welcomed the decision as a halt to the project and pledged continued legal and technical challenges.
  • The Polavaram-Banakacherla project aims to divert 200 TMC of Godavari floodwater for drinking supply to about 8 million people, irrigate new and existing ayacut and generate 400 MW, but faces pending submergence disputes in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Telangana.